Homemade Jerk Seasoning Mix

Name: Homemade Jerk Seasoning Mix
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: Jamaican
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon granulated onion; 1 tablespoon granulated garlic; 1 tablespoon dried parsley; 1 and 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1/2 - 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (1/2 mild, 1 moderate, 2 spicy); 2 teaspoons chili powder (can use regular or smoked paprika); 2 teaspoons dried thyme (not ground); 2 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon allspice; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon cumin; 1/8 teaspoon cloves

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Bring the rich smoky flavors of your favorite vegan Jamaican jerk recipes to your own kitchen with this Homemade Jerk Seasoning Mix. It’s easy to put together, versatile, and way better than storebought!

jerk seasoning mix measured out in a bowl

Now you can replicate those classic spicy and smoky flavors of Jamaican jerk cooking at home with this easy Homemade Jerk Seasoning Mix. It’s a must-have blend when you want to add layers of heat and complexity to any dish, from Jamaican Soup to Vegan Jerk Tacos.

Why is homemade Jamaican jerk seasoning the best? Because you can easily control how much of each spice goes in, not to mention the heat level. Spice lovers and non-spice lovers rejoice!

Don’t be intimidated by the long list of herbs and spices in this blend. You may even have most of the 14 in your cupboard already! If you want to take it up a notch, play with the flavors by adding dried hot peppers that are native to Jamaica, using more herbs than spices, or heading to your local Caribbean market to see what other spices you can add.

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What is Jamaican jerk seasoning?
What is it made of?
How to make homemade jerk seasoning mix
How to use jerk seasoning powder
Frequently asked questions
More vegan homemade basics
Homemade Jerk Seasoning Mix

What is Jamaican jerk seasoning?

Jamaican jerk spice is a dry spice rub traditionally used for grilled chicken. The seasoning mix is made of a long list of spices and seasonings, heavily featuring spicy and smoky flavors from allspice, thyme, and Scotch bonnet peppers.

What is it made of?

All of the spices I used in my homemade jerk seasoning mix are common and almost always easy to find:

Granulated onion and garlic - These aromatics balance the wide variety of flavors here.
Dried parsley and thyme - Because dried earthy herbs always make savory recipes better.
Allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves - To warm you inside and out.
Cayenne, cumin, and chili powder - Spice and smoke are necessary elements in any jerk spice recipe. Use what you have on hand; regular or smoked paprika, ground Scotch Bonnet, chipotle, or habanero peppers, or red chili flakes.
Brown sugar - The sweetness helps balance the spice. Granulated coconut sugar would also work well.
Salt and pepper

How to make homemade jerk seasoning mix

It’s an easy 2 step process:

Combine all of the spices: Pour all of the jerk spices into a bowl. Whisk to combine.
Add to a jar and store: Use a funnel to carefully transfer the jerk seasoning into an empty spice jar. Use it on all of your favorite Jamaican-inspired recipes or store it away for later!

How to use jerk seasoning powder

Just a smidge of this spice blend will bring life and complexity to any vegan recipe! Use it with:

Vegan jerk tacos
Grilled or roasted vegetables - Toss the veggies in oil and jerk seasoning before cooking. They’ll come off the grill or out of the oven bursting with flavor.
Jamaican vegetable soup
Tofu - Rub the seasoning on the tofu before grilling, air frying, pan frying, or baking.
Vegan chicken
Vegan taco meat
Corn on the cob

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called “jerk”?

Jerk comes from “charqui”, which is a Spanish term for jerked or dried meat. In jerk cooking, “jerk” refers to the Jamaican cooking method, dried spice blend, and wet jerk marinade.

Is jerk seasoning spicy?

Traditionally, yes. Scotch Bonnet peppers are often found in Jamaican jerk recipes. With a Scoville unit of 100,000 to 350,000 SHU, this pepper can really bring the heat in jerk seasoning blends!

When you make it at home, however, the spice blend can be made with as much or as little heat as you like. Add in more spice with extra cayenne or dried chili flakes or tone it way down to highlight the smokiness instead.

What can I use instead of Jamaican jerk seasoning?

The closest replacement would be another smoky, slightly spicy blend, like Cajun seasoning or Creole seasoning.

How long does it last?

Homemade Jamaican jerk seasoning will last for up to 2 years when it’s kept in a sealed jar in a cupboard or pantry.

More vegan homemade basics

Enjoy everyone! Happy Day! Please feel free to comment below and give this recipe a rating. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

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