Spicy Jamaican Jerk Beef Skewers
Bring the vibrant flavors of Jamaica to your backyard with these Spicy Jamaican Jerk Beef Skewers. Tender pieces of marinated sirloin are grilled to perfection alongside colorful bell peppers and sweet plantains. The marinade, bursting with a blend of allspice, fresh herbs, and spicy peppers, infuses the beef with a rich, aromatic flavor that's both bold and irresistible. Perfectly served with zesty lime wedges and garnished with fresh green onions, these skewers are an exciting dish for any gathering. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds and enjoy comforting island flavors with every bite! Please note, cooking time does not include chilling time for the marinade.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
13
Ingredients
Ingredients
Chopped green onion
1/2 cup (chopped)
Ground allspice
1 tablespoon (ground)
Red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons (n/a)
Salt
1 teaspoon (n/a)
Fresh thyme or dried thyme
1 teaspoon (fresh) or 1/4 teaspoon (dried) (chopped or dried)
Low sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons (n/a)
Ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon (ground)
Ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon (ground)
Habaneros or serrano peppers
2 peppers (seeded)
Boneless sirloin
1.5 lbs (trimmed and cut into 30 cubes)
Red bell pepper
2, cut into 18 pieces (cut)
Black-ripe plantains
2 (peeled and each cut into 9 pieces)
Cooking spray
as needed (for grilling)
Instructions
1
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and lightly grease the grill rack with cooking spray.
2
In a food processor or blender, combine the chopped green onions, ground allspice, red wine vinegar, salt, fresh thyme (or dried), low sodium soy sauce, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and your choice of habaneros or serrano peppers (aseeded) until the mixture is smooth.
3
In a large zip-lock bag, combine the onion mixture with the beef and red bell pepper pieces. Seal the bag and shake gently to ensure everything is well-coated. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
4
After marinating, remove the beef and bell pepper pieces from the marinating bag, discarding the remaining marinade. In a large bowl, combine the beef, bell pepper pieces, and plantain pieces, tossing everything to evenly coat.
5
Prepare six 12-inch skewers by threading onto each skewer 5 cubes of beef, alternating with 3 pieces of red bell pepper and 3 pieces of plantain. Lightly spray the assembled kebabs with cooking spray.
6
Place the kebabs on the preheated grill and cook for approximately 4 minutes on each side, or until the beef reaches your desired level of doneness. A medium-rare finish is recommended for optimal tenderness.
7
Once cooked, remove the kebabs from the grill and let them rest for a couple of minutes. Garnish with diagonal cuts of green onion and serve with lime wedges for a refreshing twist.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Spicy Jamaican Jerk Beef Skewers?
They are a vibrant island-inspired dish featuring marinated sirloin beef, bell peppers, and sweet plantains grilled to perfection.
What cut of meat is used in this recipe?
The recipe calls for 1.5 lbs of boneless sirloin, trimmed and cut into 30 cubes.
What ingredients are in the jerk marinade?
The marinade includes green onions, allspice, red wine vinegar, salt, thyme, soy sauce, cinnamon, nutmeg, and habanero or serrano peppers.
How should I prepare the marinade?
Combine the marinade ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until the mixture is smooth.
How long should the beef marinate?
The beef and bell peppers should marinate in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
Can I use dried thyme instead of fresh?
Yes, you can use 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon of dried thyme.
Which peppers provide the heat in this dish?
You can use either habaneros or serrano peppers, which should be seeded before blending.
How many skewers does this recipe make?
This recipe is designed to prepare six 12-inch skewers.
How do I assemble the skewers?
Thread 5 cubes of beef onto each skewer, alternating with 3 pieces of red bell pepper and 3 pieces of plantain.
What temperature should the grill be?
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
How long do the skewers take to cook?
Cook the kebabs for approximately 4 minutes on each side.
What is the recommended doneness for the beef?
A medium-rare finish is recommended for optimal tenderness.
How should the plantains be prepared?
Use two black-ripe plantains, peeled and each cut into 9 pieces.
Should I grease the grill?
Yes, lightly grease the grill rack with cooking spray before placing the skewers.
What should I do with the remaining marinade?
Discard the remaining marinade after removing the beef and bell peppers from the bag.
How should the beef rest?
Once cooked, remove the kebabs from the grill and let them rest for a couple of minutes before serving.
What are the suggested garnishes?
Garnish the skewers with diagonal cuts of green onion and serve with lime wedges.
What type of vinegar is required?
The recipe uses 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar.
Does this recipe use soy sauce?
Yes, it uses 2 teaspoons of low sodium soy sauce.
How many pieces of bell pepper are needed?
You need 2 red bell peppers cut into a total of 18 pieces.
What is the role of allspice in the recipe?
One tablespoon of ground allspice provides the primary aromatic flavor characteristic of Jamaican jerk seasoning.
Are there other spices in the marinade?
Yes, it includes 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon of ground nutmeg.
Can I use a blender for the marinade?
Yes, a food processor or a blender can be used to combine the marinade ingredients.
How much green onion is needed for the marinade?
The marinade requires 1/2 cup of chopped green onion.
Is cooking spray needed for the skewers?
Yes, lightly spray the assembled kebabs with cooking spray before grilling.
How do I ensure the marinade coats everything?
Combine the beef and peppers in a zip-lock bag, seal it, and shake gently to coat.
What kind of plantains are best?
Black-ripe plantains are best because they provide a sweet contrast to the spicy beef.
Is the cooking time inclusive of marinating?
No, the cooking time does not include the 20-minute chilling time for the marinade.
How should the lime be served?
Serve the skewers with lime wedges to provide a refreshing, zesty twist.
What makes this dish Jamaican?
The use of jerk spices like allspice, thyme, and hot peppers combined with plantains reflects traditional Jamaican flavors.