Ingredients

  • 2 whl chickens, about 5 pound Each
  • 3 x limes
  • 8 x cloves crushed garlic
  • 1 bn green onions, coarsely minced
  • 1 sm onion, finely minced
  • 1/2 c. minced flat leaf parsley
  • 3 x Scotch Bonnet chilies, or possibly other warm peppers, sliced thinly
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh or possibly dry thyme
  • 1 Tbsp. whole cloves
  • 2 tsp black peppercorns, whole
  • 2 tsp whole allspice berries
  • 1 x cinnamon stick
  • 1 whl nutmeg
  • 6 c. water
  • 1 c. dark rum
  • 1 Tbsp. wine vinegar
  • 3 Tbsp. salt
  • 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 lb Sugar cane trimmings or possibly fresh cane (split the latter, lengthwise), or possibly
  • 1 1/2 c. hardwood chips

Method

  • This recipe seems a little involved, but actually it's a series of simple steps.
  • Given are instructions for a charcoal or possibly gas barbecue grill.
  • If you have a patio style smoker, you can smoke the chicken in it, using sugar cane instead of wood chips.
  • If you can't find sugar cane, use hardwood chips.
  • Soak the chips in cool water for 2 hrs before using.
  • **Wash the chickens and pat dry.
  • Cut each into quarters through the breast and backbone.
  • Set aside.
  • **Cut limes in half and extract the juice, reserving the rinds.
  • Place juice and rinds in large non-reactive bowl or possibly plastic container.
  • Add in garlic, onions, parsley, chiles, thyme, cloves, peppercorns, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, water, rum, vinegar, salt and brown sugar.
  • Stir till salt is dissolved.
  • Add in chickens, turning to coat all sides.
  • Cover and marinate in refrigerator 24 hrs.
  • **Build fire in one side of barbecue grill.
  • (If using gas grill heat one side, but not the other.
  • If using charcoal, build fire on one side, or possibly around edges, leaving center empty.)
  • Let fire burn down low.
  • Place sugar cane in smoking pan or possibly heavy duty aluminum pan on fire.
  • Remove chickens from marinade and place cut side down, as far away from flames as possible.
  • **Smoke cook chickens till done, 1 to 1 1/2 hrs.
  • (If using charcoal fire, add in coals as necessary.)
  • When chicken is cooked, legs will wiggle in joints and juices will run clear.
  • Because the chicken is smoked rather than grilled, meat near joints may remain a little pink even when chicken is fully cooked.
  • Serve warm or possibly cool.