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Jerk marinade, one of the Caribbean’s most popular flavours, combines delicious herbs and spices with the prominent flavour of allspice berries. The heat of the spice mixture, the succulence of the slow-cooked pulled pork, and the salty watermelon cubes of this jerk pulled pork and watermelon salad make a well-matched flavour combination.
I love trying new cuisines from around the world. There are many ways to combine herbs and spices with fruits, vegetables, fish, meats and grains, and I love learning about new techniques and flavour combinations.
I was recently sent a food hamper filled with delicious Caribbean treats from Aruba, much to the delight of my children and me, who love going through and taste-testing hampers of new and exciting foodstuffs from around the world.
Where is Aruba?
Aruba is a small island, not much bigger than the island of Unst, located in the Caribbean Sea just north of Venezuela. It belongs to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and a Dutch influence is apparent in its cuisine.
The Caribbean food hamper—which featured plantain crisps, papaya puree, Dutch waffle biscuits, Shirley biscuits, jerk seasoning, Banks lager, and a speculaas spice mix—included a copy of Shivi Ramoutar’s cookery book Caribbean Modern: Recipes from the Rum Islands (2015), which is packed full of vibrant and delicious recipes that will whisk you away to warmer climes.
I just had all of the ingredients on hand for her jerk marinade. Her jerk pulled pork with watermelon salad sounded divine, so I made this for a late lunch one day. I adapted the recipe slightly in that I used my trusty slow cooker, meaning I could set the pork to cook and then head out into the sun for a morning of cycling. Win-win!
What is in the jerk marinade?
This jerk marinade, one of the Caribbean’s most popular flavours, combines delicious herbs and spices. The prominent flavour comes from the allspice berries. The spice mixture’s heat, the succulence of the slow-cooked pulled pork, and the salty watermelon cubes make a winning combination.
I served the jerk pulled pork and watermelon salad with some fried bakes (another recipe in the book). They were a fantastic accompaniment, especially when served with genuine ice-cold Caribbean lager.
I froze the remainder of the pulled pork into individual servings for later quick meals. I look forward to reheating them on the BBQ when the summer sun shines!
Recipe Difficulty Levels
Easy
Requires basic cooking skills and ingredients you most likely already have in your kitchen.
Moderate
Requires more experience, preparation and/or cooking time. You may have to source special ingredients.
Challenging
Recipes requiring more advanced skills and experience and maybe some special equipment.
Slow-Cooker Jerk Pulled Pork and Watermelon Salad
Ingredients
for the jerk marinade
- 8 whole allspice berries
- 5 tsp whole black peppercorns
- 1 cinnamon stick broken into pieces
- 2 tsp whole coriander seeds
- 8 spring onions roughly chopped
- 8 garlic cloves peeled
- 1 fresh red chilli seeds removed
- 8 bay leaves
- 2 tbsp demerara sugar
- 2 tbsp Shetland sea salt
- 5 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger root peeled and grated
- 3 tsp runny honey
- 1 lime juice only
- 2 tsp Scottish rapeseed oil
- 1 tsp soy sauce
for the pulled pork
- 1.8 kg rolled pork shoulder flesh deeply scored
- 1 portion jerk marinade (see recipe above)
- 0.5 tbsp instant coffee granules
- 1 tbsp hot water
- 1 large orange juice only
to assemble
- 1 large orange juice only
- 100 grams watercress
- 1/4 large watermelon cut into small cubes
- Shetland sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper
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Equipment
Instructions
for the jerk marinade
- Heat a frying pan over a low heat and gently toast 8 whole allspice berries, 5 tsp whole black peppercorns, 1 cinnamon stick and 2 tsp whole coriander seeds, shaking the pan occasionally. Remove from the heat when the aroma of the spices has been released.
- Add the toasted spices to a mortar and pestle and crush until it forms a grainy powder.
- Place the spices into a food processor and blitz until a paste has formed.
- This can be stored in a jar in the fridge for up to two weeks, or divide into portions and freeze for up to 3 months, defrosting when needed.
for the pulled pork
- The night before, combine half 1 portion jerk marinade with 0.5 tbsp instant coffee granules dissolved in 1 tbsp hot water and the juice of 1 large orange. Massage deep into the scored flesh of 1.8 kg rolled pork shoulder and place into your slow cooker pot along with 8 spring onions, chopped, 8 garlic cloves, crushed, 1 fresh red chilli, finely chopped, 8 bay leaves, 2 tbsp demerara sugar, 2 tbsp Shetland sea salt, 5 tsp fresh thyme leaves, 2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg, 1 tbsp fresh ginger root, grated, 3 tsp runny honey, the juice of 1 lime, 2 tsp Scottish rapeseed oil and 1 tsp soy sauceover, and leave to marinade in the fridge until the following day.
- Cook the pork on low for 8-10 hours. When cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the pot, shred with two forks, cover and set aside. Reserve any juices in the pot.
- Just before you are ready to serve, heat the remaining jerk marinade in a small saucepan until the spices release their aroma. Mix with the juice of 1 large orange and any juices at the bottom of the slow cooker pot and bring to the boil. Leave to simmer for a few minutes to reduce.
- Pour the dressing over the pulled pork, tossing to make sure everything is well coated. The pork can be frozen at this stage, or chill it for a few days if you’ve got a BBQ coming up and reheat on the BBQ.
- To serve, arrange 100 grams watercress on a platter and scatter with 1/4 large watermelon, cubed, seasoned generously with Shetland sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (use a lot!). Add the pulled pork and gently toss together.
Notes
Nutrition
Strawberry Balsamic Jam
Pork & watermelon – what an interesting combination.
I love watermelon but have always just eaten it on its own or in a drink. This looks interesting.
I stumbled across a Caribbean restaurant the other day and oh my it was absolutely incredible. I had jerk chicken and it was one of the best meals I’ve had in so long. I love, love, love watermelon. This sounds so delicious. A definitely must try! x
I can eat watermelon everyday. This looks a tasty dish!
This looks and sounds different. Sounds very refreshing and perfect for this weather
These looks delicious! I would never have thought to mix the two 🙂
This looks absolutely beautiful! I don’t know why but I have never thought to pair pulled pork with watermelon but I can imagine it’s wonderful, love the how the colours look on the plate too. x
I would have never thought to put watermelon in a salad before! x
Definitely giving the Jerk pulled pork ago! I might pair it with something else though!
The caribbean is my favourite place to visit! So much amazing culture to see and such vibrant recipes! I love both pulled pork and watermelon but never tried them together although I can already imagine they’d mix well when I think about it!
The thought of pork and watermelon together made me go eeewwww. But then thinking just how spicy jerk is, I can imagine them to go really well together.
Pointless is the TV show that I know Nassau from! How amazing to get a hamper of Caribbean foods – yum! I have to admit that I’m not a fan of pork in most circumstances, but pulled pork is the exception, and I do love jerk marinade. Never had it with, or would have thought of watermelon salad, but it looks really good. (Lucy/R is for Hoppit)
I love a good slow cooker recipe! With a household of males, pulled pork recipes are always a favourite and I would never have thought to try watermelon in a salad but I will now.
pulled pork is one of my favorite things to cook!! oh and i never thought of the addition of water melon.. I have to say as a fellow food blogger your photos are amazing.. really inspiring hun x
Now this is a different kind of dish. I never thought pairing a savory dish with watermelon. Is something different, my mum would actually like it.
I would never have thought to add salt to watermelon and pair with chicken! I’m going to have to try it out! Xx
I love the addition of watermelon in this. It seems so fresh and summery xxx
Now this sounds good. I love that Caribbean flavor combo! It would be so cool to visit Aruba!
This sounds absolutely amazing – I totally love pulled pork so I need to try this.x
I am so intrigued by this, my brain wants to hate it but I really want to try it x
Holy moly this looks divine Elizabeth, all those flavours and then the simple watery sweetness of the watermelon to contrast, heaven on a platter right there!
Wow. Pork and watermelon salad sounds very juicy.
The jerk pulled pork sounds great but I’m not so sure of watermelon in a salad. Sounds very tropical though x
Oh Elizabeth this looks delicious and the watermelon! Yum Yum!
Wow!! This looks incredible.. And so vibrant! Never thought you could pair watermelon with pork.
Lol.. This made me laugh- ‘your appalling geographical ignorance’ hehe. I want a basket of goodies dropped off at my door!!!
I would never think to pair them together, but it does look very tempting. I love jerk pork X
Looks delicious. Love the bright colors which the salad adds. Yum 🙂
I totally started singing Kokomo 🙂 I love trying different cuisines as well, and the combos in your jerk marinade sound amazing! Along with the watermelon this is an absolute winner.
I just love watermelon in a salad!
We are looking at going to Aruba next year, as it looks beautiful.
What a wonderful gift hamper to receive. Your jerk pulled pork looks sensational and I love that you have paired it with a watermelon salad.