Jamaican Jerk Chicken

This comes form Bon Appetit - May 2006. The jerk seasoning can be made a day in advance. The chicken needs to marinate for at least four hours and can sit as long as overnight. Preparation time does not include Marinade

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 3  tablespoons dark rum (Plus a jigger for the cook)
• 2  tablespoons water
• 1⁄2 cup malt vinegar
• 10  green onions, chopped
• 4  garlic cloves, peeled, chopped
• 2  tablespoons dried thyme
• 2  scotch bonnet peppers, chopped or 2  habanero peppers, with seeds, chopped
• 2  tablespoons  vegetable oil
• 4  teaspoons ground allspice
• 4  teaspoons ground ginger
• 4  teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2  teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 2  teaspoons ground black pepper
• 2  teaspoons dark brown sugar
• 1  cup ketchup
• 3  tablespoons soy sauce
• 1  roasting chicken, halved lengthwise, rinsed, patted dry (or chicken breast)
• 1⁄2 cup fresh lime juice

Directions

1. Boil rum and 2 tablespoons water in small saucepan for 3 minutes.
2. Transfer rum mixture to blender; add vinegar and next 12 ingredients and blend until almost smooth. Transfer 2 tablespoons jerk seasoning to small bowl; mix in ketchup and soy sauce to make sauce. (Jerk seasoning and sauce can be made 1 day ahead; cover separately and refrigerate.).
3. Arrange chicken in large roasting pan or baking dish. Pour lime juice over; turn to coat. Spoon jerk seasoning over chicken and rub inches Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours, turning occasionally. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.).
4. Preheat oven to 350°F or prepare barbecue (medium heat). Remove chicken from jerk seasoning marinade; sprinkle with salt and pepper. If roasting chicken in oven, arrange chicken, skin side up, on rimmed baking sheet. Roast until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced with fork, about 50 minutes. If grilling chicken, place chicken, skin side down, on grill rack, cover, and grill until chicken is cooked through, turning occasionally and adjusting heat if browning too quickly, about 50 minutes.
5. Cut each chicken half into pieces and serve with sauce.