Looking for a recipe that is going to give you a taste of the Caribbean and whisk you off to the popular holiday destination, in spirit if not in body? Then look no further. These easy air fried jerk-inspired chicken drumsticks are perfect for hot Summer days and lazy afternoons spent in the garden. They will have you believing you have left normal life behind in favour of sun, sea and sand in no time. To accompany the Caribbean inspired flavours, I’ve made this recipe as quick and easy as possible so you can embody the true spirit of the Caribbean and feel relaxed and zen even as you create this mouth-watering dish. Pop the chicken into the marinade the night before for a super quick dinner and enriched flavours. Air fried jerk chicken doesn’t come any easier than this!
The vibrant blend of ingredients for the jerk sauce, including fiery red chilies, pungent garlic, and fragrant ginger, whisks you away to the bustling markets of the Caribbean islands. Once marinated, the chicken drumsticks eagerly soak up the flavours of the jerk sauce, ensuring each bite is bursting with the essence of the Caribbean. The ease and simplicity of cooking with an air fryer allow you to relax and enjoy the process, knowing that a delicious taste of the tropics awaits.
Photo by Danielle Wood
Serves 4
Ingredients
8 chicken drumsticks
For the jerk sauce:
3 small red chillies, roughly chopped
1 small red onion, roughly chopped
4 spring onions, roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
thumb-sized piece fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp vegetable oil
juice of 1 lime
½ tsp ground allspice
1 tsp runny honey
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Make the jerk sauce by putting all of the ingredients in a blender or smoothie maker and blending to a smooth paste. If the mixture is too thick and doesn’t blend, add a little more oil to loosen slightly.
Lay the chicken drumsticks in the base of a lidded container, then pour over the sauce and rub into the chicken to ensure everything is well coated. Cover with a lid and transfer to the fridge to marinate, ideally overnight.
Once the chicken is marinated, lay it in the base of the air fryer in a single layer (you may need to do this in batches, depending on the size of your fryer) and cook at 180°C for 20–25 minutes, turning the drumsticks halfway through cooking time, until the meat is tender and the juices run clear.
I like to serve mine hot straight from the air fryer. These air fried jerk chicken drumsticks are wonderful to serve alongside salads and slaws (check out my air fried air fried crispy veg slaw as a great accompaniment), or with rice and peas for a true taste of the Caribbean sunshine.
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