Christmas is a time when families gather together, eat delicious food and create unforgettable memories. At Chale Line, a beachfront hotel in Negril, director Charmaine Bowen has elevated the tradition by turning his Christmas dinner at the resort into a gourmet feast.
Sharing her family’s 35-year secret Jamaican roast turkey recipe has become a beloved tradition for local and international guests alike. Bowen invites guests to create unforgettable memories during the holiday season while immersing guests in the rich Jamaican culture through her passion for the kitchen.
Bowen has always had a deep love of cooking. Growing up in a household where meals were the center of gatherings, she learned the importance of sharing culinary traditions. One of her such traditions is her famous secret recipe for stuffed rummy. This delicious dish combines Jamaican flavors with international flair to create a unique and unforgettable taste.
Bowen emphasizes that the magic is in the filling. The traditional concept of stuffing has reached new heights by incorporating sweet potatoes and ripe plantains. Sweet potatoes provide a natural sweetness, while ripe plantains add a fun tropical twist. But what sets Charela’s Lamb Spice Holiday Roast Turkey apart is the secret ingredient in the stuffing: the famous Ray & Nephew White His Lamb. The rum adds a unique depth and flavor that enhances the overall flavor of the dish. During the cooking process, the aromatic properties of rum blend seamlessly with other ingredients such as pimento and herbs de Provence, which consists of sage, dried basil, and thyme.
Incorporating rum into your roast turkey stuffing recipe creates an appealing flavor. The result is dynamic, complex and unforgettable.
To add to the festivities, Charela Inn’s on-site restaurant, Le Vendôme, offers a five-course dinner menu that seamlessly blends the rich flavors of Jamaica with the refined techniques of French cuisine. The menu includes pumpkin cream soup, chale line garden salad, raspberry ripple cheesecake, and the star of the show, the Rum Spice Holiday Roasted Turkey.
Would you like to add a little spice to your Christmas menu this year? Here are some recipes that will make you want to take part in the tradition.
Holiday Roasted Turkey Recipe with Rum Spice
Yield: 8-10 servings
material
・10 pounds turkey
・Garlic (chopped) 3 tablespoons
・3 tablespoons green seasoning
・1/4 cup butter
・1 large onion (chopped)
· 1 1/4 cups kosher salt
・8 whole cloves
・2 bay leaves
・6 sage leaves
・5-6 green onions, white part and green part
・1 tablespoon green pepper
・1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
Stuffing
· 3 pounds peeled sweet potatoes
・3 medium ginger
・1 large ripe plantain
・1/4 cup raisins
・1/4 cup of onions and green onions
· 1/4 cup Herbs de Provence – sage, dried basil, thyme
・Pimento
・Ray & Neff White Rum
Instructions
1. Wash the turkey inside and out. Pat dry. Dress the turkey with seasonings. Let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 days.
2. Boil the sweet potatoes and plantains. Drain the water and mash both the potatoes and plantains.
3. Add seasonings and, if desired, Lay & Nephew white rum.
4. Stuff the turkey and season lightly again.
5. Bake the turkey at 350 degrees F for 2 hours.
6. Make a sauce using the drippings from the turkey.
7. Bake the turkey at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.