Being able to add flavor to a medley of dishes, jerk seasoning is famous across the globe for its unique, zesty, earthy, and profound flavor profile. So, in this episode, we will bring you about what jerk seasoning is made of.
This seasoning blend traditionally includes spices and herbs such as:
- Allspice
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Cumin Seeds
- Nutmeg
- Cinnamon
- Paprika
- Cayenne Pepper
- Black Pepper
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Dried Thyme
- Dried Oregano
In addition to these spices and herbs, jerk seasoning could also contain other flavorings like salt and brown sugar. Thus, scroll down to see what’s more we have in for you!
What Is Jerk Seasoning Made Of- Spices, Herbs, And Other Ingredients
Jerk seasoning is loaded with pungent flavors. And thanks to its intense ingredients, it will give many of your dishes a flavorful, zesty flavor.
Spices
01- Allspice
Traditionally known as “pimento” in Jamaican cuisine, this spice is one of the base flavorings of this mix. Ground allspice has a flavor combination of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon, which is earthy with warm undertones. It pairs well with other spices in this blend, like cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and cumin.
02- Red Pepper Flakes
Red pepper flakes hold a depth of flavor with hot and spicy notes. This spice usually adds a great texture and a color to the jerk seasoning. This could particularly complement meat, seafood, and fish getting along well with a majority of other spices and herbs used in the blend.
03- Cumin Seeds
Warm, nutty, and slightly sweet cumin seeds are incorporated in this mix in their ground form. This spice has the amazing ability to complement any dish, especially pairing well with allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and thyme.
04- Nutmeg
Nutmeg is warm with a robust nutty flavor and woody and slightly sweet hints. Generally, freshly grated nutmeg is used, and nutmeg powder is employed otherwise. This spice is great with meat-based dishes, and it pairs pleasingly with cumin, black pepper, and garlic powder in this seasoning blend.
05- Cinnamon
This versatile and universal spice gives a powerful punch with gentle citrus notes and slight sweetness. Typically, ground cinnamon gets along well with cumin, nutmeg, and black pepper to provide a great taste to any dish that calls for jerk seasoning.
06- Paprika
The flavor of this spice always depends on the variety used. Accordingly, it could be either smoky, hot, or mildly flavored. This spice gives a nice color to the mix and offers a profundity of flavor to any dish. Paprika usually teams up well with many other flavorings in the blend, including garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, black pepper, and herbs.
07- Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is enriched with a hot, fiery, and spicy flavor profile. This spice also gives color to the blend, pairing well with almost every ingredient used. Cayenne pepper usually complements zesty meat, fish, and seafood dishes that call for a richer taste.
08- Black Pepper
Ground black pepper used in the jerk seasoning blend is another versatile flavoring agent that gives a unique peppery and earthy punch. It complements any dish that calls for this mix and merely gets along with all the other spices, herbs, and flavorings.
09- Onion Powder
The powdery consistency of this spice gives the overall blend a smooth texture with a dispersed oniony flavor. It typically holds an intense taste with sulfur-like notes. Onion powder makes perfect companionship with garlic powder and gets along with most dishes.
10- Garlic Powder
Like onion powder, garlic powder also gives jerk seasoning a distinctive texture with a sharp and pungent garlic taste. This spice pairs with almost all the spices and herbs used in the blend, including onion powder, cumin, paprika, thyme, and oregano. Garlic powder is specifically a great addition to meat-based, fish, seafood, and vegetable dishes that call for this seasoning blend.
When my stomach grumbled, I filled up on hamburgers, hot dogs, gyros, tacos, jerk chicken, pizza, and a side salad because I was watching my figure.
Y.A. Marks
Herbs
01- Dried Thyme
Dried thyme is earthy, slightly peppery-sweet, and floral with a sharp minty note. Adding this herb will enhance jerk seasoning with a deep and rich flavor. Moreover, it pairs well with oregano, nutmeg, onion powder, and garlic powder complementing many dishes.
02- Dried Oregano
This herb owns an intricate flavor profile. Thus, it is basically earthy and bold with a trace of mild bitterness and hints of camphor. Oregano makes a perfect couple with dried thyme and gets along with other spices like cumin and garlic powder. In addition, vegetable, fish, and meat-based dishes will get an excellent favor with this herb.
Other Ingredients
Almost every store-bought and homemade jerk seasoning recipe could contain salt and sugar (brown sugar is used often) along with the spices and herbs mentioned above. In addition, commercially-made ones may include:
- Citric acid
- Sunflower oil
- Anti-caking agents (silicon dioxide)
- Other preservatives and additives
Wrapping Up With The Jerk Seasoning…
The spices, herbs, and other flavorings of this seasoning blend offer an exceptionally great taste to many dishes that call for it. All these ingredients are pungent, powerful and intensely flavored, and aromatic enough to fill your kitchen with exotic fragrances of the traditional Caribbean food.
