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Photo of Jerk chicken thighs with mango salsa by WW

Jerk chicken thighs with mango salsa

5
5
5
SmartPoints® value per serving
Total Time
40 min
Prep
15 min
Cook
25 min
Serves
2
Difficulty
Easy
If you’re looking for bold flavor, this chicken dish delivers in a big way. In Jamaica, where jerked meats originated, there are both wet marinades and dry rubs. This recipe uses a homemade wet jerk seasoning marinade that gives the chicken bold flavor. Much like homemade curries, homemade jerk seasoning can vary from cook to cook. To tame the heat we’ve substituted a jalapeño pepper for the traditional, extremely hot scotch bonnet chile pepper. And we’ve paired the chicken with a cooling mango salsa. You can make the salsa up to a day ahead and keep it, covered, in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

Uncooked scallion(s)

2 medium, chopped

Fresh lime juice

2 Tbsp

Cilantro

2 Tbsp, fresh, chopped

Low sodium soy sauce

1 Tbsp

Sugar

1 Tbsp

Garlic clove(s)

1 medium clove(s)

Ginger root

1 tsp, fresh, peeled and grated

Jalapeño pepper(s)

1 small, coarsely chopped (wear gloves to prevent irritation)

Ground allspice

¾ tsp

Ground nutmeg

⅛ tsp

Uncooked boneless skinless chicken thigh(s)

8 oz

Mango(es)

1 small, peeled, pitted, and chopped

Uncooked red onion(s)

2 Tbsp, chopped, chopped

Unsweetened orange juice

2 Tbsp

Table salt

⅛ tsp

Instructions

  1. Combine the scallions, lime juice, 1 tablespoon of the cilantro, the soy sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger, jalapeño pepper, allspice, and nutmeg in a blender; puree on high speed. Transfer the mixture to a zip-close plastic bag; add the chicken. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag; turn to coat the chicken. Refrigerate, turning bag occasionally, at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
  2. To make the mango salsa, combine the remaining 1 tablespoon cilantro, the mango, onion, orange juice, and salt in a small bowl; set aside.
  3. Spray the grill rack with nonstick spray. Prepare the grill. Remove the chicken from the marinade. Grill the chicken 5 inches from the heat, turning frequently, until cooked through, 20–25 minutes. Serve the chicken with the mango salsa. Yields 1 chicken thigh and scant 1/2 cup salsa per serving.