Perhaps more "Jamerican" than authentically Jamaican, this Jerk Chicken Pasta recipe does contain a number of the key ingredients in Jamaican cuisine: allspice, thyme, scallions, and scotch bonnet/habanero pepper.

The recipe calls for chicken breast, but there's no reason you couldn't use thighs. Use commercial dried jerk seasoning mix (below), or make your own.

Some versions of this recipe are unfortunately called Rasta Pasta; as it contains meat and dairy products, it most definitely is not Rastafarian. And as long as we're being technical, it's chicken with jerk seasoning, not jerk chicken.

Whatever you call it, it's very delicious and good spicy summertime food.

Boneless skinless breast 2-3 or 4-6 breast tenderloins
2 tbsp jerk seasoning (see below)
Olive oil for sauteing

3 bell peppers (one each yellow, green, and red), seeded and sliced into thin strips
6 scallions, sliced thin
2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
4 tbsps jerk seasoning (see below)
1 habanero pepper
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated dry cheese, parmesan or pecorino
Olive oil for sauteing

1 pound pasta, like penne or rotini

For the chicken: cover chicken with jerk seasoning and marinate in the fridge for 6-24 hours. Bring to room temperature. Heat oil in heavy pan and saute chicken for two to three minutes a side over medium high heat. Depending on how your chicken is cut, you might need to finish it in a low oven.

Cook the pasta according to package instructions. While it's cooking, assemble the sauce.

Make the sauce: Heat a tablespoon or two of olive oil over medium heat in a heavy pan, and gently saute peppers, scallions, and garlic until softened and fragrant, 5-6 minutes. Add the 4 tbsps of jerk seasoning and stir to combine. Cut the habanero in half and add to sauce. Or, for milder sauce, just pierce the pepper before adding, or omit it all together. Add heavy cream and up to half a cup of water to loosen the sauce, then stir to combine, and simmer to thicken slightly. Add the grated cheese, then the cooked pasta, and stir to combine.

Cut the chicken into thin pieces and serve on top of the pasta.

Jerk Seasoning Powder

Mix the following ingredients:

1 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp garlic powder
2 tsp cayenne pepper or two taste
1 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tbsp dried thyme
2 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Makes 6+ tablespoons. You'll need just about that much for the recipe above, 2 for marinating chicken and 4 for sauce.