Jerk Chicken and Sweet Potato Hash with Poached Eggs and Mango-Habanero Hot Sauce

Total Time:	1 hr 25 min
Cook Time:	1 hr 25 min
Serves:	4
Level:	Intermediate

Ingredients

Mango-Habanero Hot Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped 
• 1 shallot, chopped 
• 2 mangoes, chopped (about 2 heaping cups)
• 1 habanero, chopped 
• 1 cup white wine vinegar 
• 3 tablespoons honey 
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 

Jerk Chicken and Sweet Potato Hash:

• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 Spanish onion, chopped 
• 2 Jerk Chicken Breasts, diced, recipe follows
• 3 medium sweet potatoes, boiled, peeled and diced 
• 4 scallions, sliced on the diagonal, plus for garnish 
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped, plus for garnish 

Poached Eggs:

• 4 eggs
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

Jerk Chicken Breasts:

• 3 tablespoons ground coriander
• 3 tablespoons ground ginger 
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar 
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder 
• 2 tablespoons onion powder 
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt, plus for sprinkling
• 1 tablespoon habanero powder 
• 1 tablespoons dried thyme 
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon 
• 2 teaspoons ground cloves 
• 2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper, plus for sprinkling
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, about 6 ounces each 
• 2 tablespoons canola oil 

Directions

Special equipment:

 3-inch ring molds, optional

1. For the hot sauce: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and shallots and cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the mangoes and habaneros and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Add the vinegar and a tablespoon or so of the honey. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, until the mangoes are soft, about 10 minutes.
2. Pour the mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. Add salt, pepper, and more honey to taste. If very thick, thin with a few tablespoons water. Strain through a sieve set over a small bowl. (Makes about 1 cup.)
3. For the hash: Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the jerk chicken, sweet potatoes, scallions and cilantro; toss together. Press the mixture into the pan and cook, undisturbed, until the bottom starts to brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Turn over parts of the hash, press and crisp again.
4. For the eggs: Line a plate with paper towels. Crack the eggs into little bowls. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over medium-high heat; stir in the vinegar. Slip the eggs into the water, adjusting the heat to maintain a bare simmer. Cook until the egg whites are set but the yolks are still runny, about 4 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the eggs to paper towels to dry.
5. To assemble: While the eggs are poaching, set a ring mold on a dinner plate and spoon in some of the hash, pressing to crush the potatoes a bit. Remove the mold. Make a little divot in the top of the hash, then spoon on a poached egg and drizzle some hot sauce over the top. (If you don’t have a ring mold, just mound the hash onto plates.) Garnish with scallions and cilantro. Repeat for the remaining servings. Serve immediately.

Jerk Chicken Breasts:

1. In a small bowl, combine the coriander, ginger, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, habanero powder, thyme, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper. Mix to blend. (Makes about 1 cup; extra spice mix can be stored in a sealed container in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.)
2. Sprinkle the chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides; rub the top side with a generous amount of the spice mix.
3. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts, rub-side down, and cook until a crust forms, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook until just cooked through, about 4 minutes more.