Jamaican Jerk Sauce
Is there any sauce more suited for grilling than this sweet, savory, and flavor-packed homemade jerk sauce? Complex flavors and spicy heat burst from Scotch bonnets and Jamaican jerk spices. This versatile sauce works perfectly as a marinade, seasoning, and dip.
Jamaica is one of my favorite foodie destinations. I swear I gain 20 pounds in one week just trying out all the different recipes I can. And the chefs are so friendly and ready to answer all my questions.
Why It’s Called Jerk
History can be fascinating. Turning meat into jerky is a millennia-old method of preserving meat. Jamaica’s indigenous people added spices that not only delivered amazing flavors but also helped preserve the meat. They poked holes into the meat (called jerking) so the spices could penetrate better. Then they smoked and dried it.
There are as many jerk recipes as there are Grannies. As long as you have allspice and Scotch bonnets, you have the ingredients for the base. Other popular ingredients are ginger, cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and garlic. And don’t let not having Scotch bonnets stop you from making jerk sauce, because almost any hot pepper will work fine.
How to Make Jamaican Jerk Sauce
Puree everything in a blender and simmer until thickened to the desired consistency. Use at will.
Recipe Tips
- Replace the pineapple juice with freshly squeezed orange, lemon, or lime juice. However, you may want to add a tad more sugar if you use lemon or lime, so it’s not too sour.
- A splash of apple cider vinegar adds a nice zing and is a natural preservative, so the sauce lasts longer in the fridge.
- Replace the sugar with honey for purely natural sweetness.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Homemade jerk sauce will last a week in the fridge. Add a tablespoon or two of vinegar if you want it to last a month. It freezes well for 3-6 months.
Tip: You can freeze jerk sauce in an ice cube tray, then transfer the frozen sauce cubes to a resealable freezer-safe bag to save space and easy thawing.
How to Use Jerk Sauce
You’re going to love marinating your chicken wings or ribs in this sauce. The Caribbean vibes give you a delicious flavor swap for grilled dishes.
You can also dip your favorite snacks, like sweet potato fries and baked crispy potato wedges. Pulled pork sandwich and shrimp po’boy. Both love the kick they get by adding a spoonful of this sauce to the mayo.
More Flavorful Homemade Sauces to Try
Watch How to Make It
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This blog post was first published in April 2022 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
Jamaican Jerk Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme, minced
- 4 green onions, chopped (both green and white parts)
- ½ small onion, chopped
- 6-8 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 1 1 tablespoon (10g) fresh ginger, chopped
- 2-4 Scotch bonnet or habanero peppers, deseeded and chopped
- 1½-2 tablespoons (22-30ml) soy sauce
- 2-4 tablespoons (25-50g) brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons (12g) ground allspice
- 1 tablespoon (8g) ground cinnamon
- ½ tablespoon (4g) freshly grated nutmeg
- ½-1 tablespoon (5-10g) bouillon powder (optional)
- ¼-½ cup (60-120ml) pineapple juice, adjust to the desired consistency (or water)
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) oil (more as needed)
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, finely chop the following: thyme, green onions, onions, garlic, ginger, habanero, or Scotch bonnet pepper. Then add the soy sauce, brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon powder, nutmeg, bouillon powder, and pineapple juice. Pulse for about 30 seconds or until blended.
- Heat the oil in a skillet or saucepan. As soon as the oil is hot, add the pureed ingredients. As soon as it starts to bubble, reduce the heat and simmer for 7-8 minutes.
- Serve with chicken, pork, beef, or on a sandwich.
Tips & Notes:
- You can swap pepper flakes for habanero or Scotch bonnet peppers if they’re unavailable in your area or are too spicy for your taste.
- Please wear gloves when handling hot peppers and avoid touching your face (especially your eyes) to prevent unnecessary pain.
- Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
Fantastic job. Would love to see you cooking with Jerk Centre’s, Jerk Sauce. It’s amazing to say the least.
Glad you liked it! 🙂
I absolutely love jerk sauce, so very happy to have correct ingredients and advice
Great to hear. Thank you!!!
How long can you store this sauce
Hi Tonya. It should last a week or two in the fridge.