Caribbean Chicken

It's not even October yet and I'm already getting bored of my typical weeknight dinners. As much as I love my Croque Poulet, a girl can only have so much bacon. Well, maybe not, but I do want new, bright flavors that (literally) add spice to my meal. The recipe is extremely simple and can be edited to fit your taste; all you have to do is make the marinade, let the chicken sit for a few hours, and grill until cooked through and juicy.

Allspice is a necessity in Caribbean cooking, and it adds a nice fall-esque warmth to the whole dish. Soy sauce and ginger are surprising ingredients; yes, they can be welcome additions to non-Asian dishes. You don't need much salt because the soy sauce is such a perfectly savory substitute. The red onion and scallions add a bit of bite, and the orange juice and lime add a tart zestiness. There's one more element of flavor that is a key part of Caribbean dishes: the heat. I prefer to add jalapeño and cayenne to taste; you can reduce the amount of either if you want less spice or use more or spicier chiles if you want a spicier dish.

I'll admit that it's an unlikely combination of flavors. However, they all work together to make a hearty, satisfying dinner. I like to serve it over rice, which soaks up the extra marinade and tones down the heat a bit, but it would also be fantastic with some grilled vegetables. This is definitely going to be a staple on my weeknight dinner menu!

1 tsp Allspice
1/4 Cup Chopped Red Onion
1/2 Cup Sliced Scallions
2 T Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Orange Juice
1 T Lime Zest
2 T Lime Juice
2 T Soy Sauce
2 T Chopped Fresh Thyme
1 Jalapeno, Diced
2 T Grated Fresh Ginger
2 Cloves Garlic
1/2 - 1 tsp Cayenne
1 lb Chicken Breast or Thighs 

Combine the allspice, red onion, scallions, olive oil, orange juice, lime zest, soy sauce, thyme, jalapeno, ginger, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until smooth.

Toss the chicken in the marinade and let sit for 4-8 hours.

Grill the chicken until cooked through.

Serves 4
Recipe Adapted from Guy Fieri