Jerk Chicken Lettuce Cups (Printable Version)

Spicy jerk chicken in crisp lettuce cups topped with fresh mango salsa and creamy coconut drizzle.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Jerk Chicken

01 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 2 tablespoons jerk seasoning
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Mango Salsa

06 - 1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
07 - 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
08 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
09 - 1 small jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
11 - Juice of 1 lime
12 - Pinch of salt

→ Coconut Crema

13 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt
14 - 2 tablespoons coconut milk
15 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
16 - 1/2 teaspoon honey
17 - Pinch of salt

→ To Serve

18 - 8 large butter lettuce leaves or romaine hearts
19 - Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
20 - Lime wedges

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine chicken thighs, jerk seasoning, olive oil, lime juice, and salt. Toss thoroughly to coat all pieces evenly. Allow to marinate for a minimum of 15 minutes.
02 - While chicken marinates, prepare the salsa by combining diced mango, red onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt in a separate bowl. Mix gently and set aside until ready to serve.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together yogurt, coconut milk, lime juice, honey, and salt until the mixture reaches a smooth, pourable consistency. Refrigerate until assembly.
04 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Transfer marinated chicken to the hot skillet and cook, stirring frequently, for 6 to 8 minutes until fully cooked through with light charring. Remove from heat.
05 - Arrange lettuce leaves on a serving platter. Distribute jerk chicken evenly among the leaves, top each with mango salsa, and drizzle with coconut crema. Garnish with additional cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It comes together in less than an hour and tastes like you spent all day marinating and grilling.
  • The contrasts are what make it addictive: spicy against sweet, warm chicken against crisp lettuce, creamy against tangy.
02 -
  • Don't skip marinating the chicken; even 15 minutes makes a noticeable difference in how much flavor the jerk seasoning imparts.
  • If your mango is underripe, it won't add the sweetness that balances the spice, so choose one that smells fragrant and yields slightly to pressure.
03 -
  • Char the chicken until the edges are deeply golden and slightly crispy; it adds complexity and makes the seasoning taste more intense and intentional.
  • Keep your lettuce leaves in an ice bath until you're ready to assemble so they're as crisp as possible and provide the best contrast to the warm chicken.
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