The Everything Guide to Building Marinades
Building Marinades
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1.OILS AND FATS
Grapeseed Oil:Perfect for direct grilling, grapeseed oil has a high smoke point, so it stands up to intense heat without burning, and its neutral taste lets other flavors shine.
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil:This type of oil is especially good at carrying flavor deep into cuts of meat. Infuse it with spices, herbs, and aromatics for additional depth and dimension.
Whole-Milk Greek Yogurt:Creamy and mildly acidic, whole-milk Greek yogurt keeps foods moist and tenderizes them at the same time. In combination with cumin and cardamom, it lends spicy succulence to Indian-style marinades.
Hot Sesame Oil:This spicy oil gets its heat from chiles, and has a nutty flavor that we love in marinades for chicken. Use it in tandem with grapeseed or olive oil, as a little goes a long way.
Read More: Recipes for Grilled Chicken »
2. ENZYMES
Papayas: Sweet, pungent papayas contain the enzyme papain, which breaks down muscle proteins. Puréed, they’re wonderful in short-soak marinades for thick flank or skirt steaks.
Fresh Ginger: Grated or juiced, fresh ginger contains the enzyme zingibain, which softens meat while imparting a sweet, hot kick to marinades.
Fresh Pineapple Juice: The fruit’s acidic juice adds bright, sharp, tropical notes to foods, and also contains the enzyme bromelain, a powerful tenderizer. Try it on pork.
Kiwifruit: In Korea many cooks rub the tart pulp of kiwifruit, which contains the enzyme actinidin, on kalbi, beef short ribs, to sweeten and break down the rib meat before cooking.
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3. ACIDIC INGREDIENTS
Beer: Use lighter lagers and hoppy IPAs to give a mild, yeasty lift to marinades for chicken, pork, and fish; try maltier, sweeter porters and stouts for beef and lamb.
Lime juice: In the Caribbean, the Middle East, and beyond, lime juice is prized for the citric bite it brings to fish and chicken marinades. Lime zest can be grated into marinades for a floral dimension. (Other citrus—lemons, grapefruit—are also delicious.)
Buttermilk: Long used in Southern kitchens to tenderize chickens destined for the fryer, tangy buttermilk is a perfect canvas for other flavors. Try it with cilantro and cayenne on grilled chicken.
Apple Cider Vinegar: This type of vinegar lends a lush, fruity tartness to marinades and sauces. We love it for all kinds of meats, but it pairs particularly well with pork.
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4. SALTS AND SAVORY INGREDIENTS
Worcestershire Sauce: Spicy, sweet-tart Worcestershire sauce—a potent mix of anchovies, tamarind, molasses, chiles, and more—enhances the meaty aspect of grilled beef and pork.
Salt-Packed Capers: We love salt-packed capers coarsely chopped, with olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh oregano, marjoram, or rosemary in Mediterranean-style marinades. They deliver a briny punch.
Miso Paste: Made of fermented soybeans, umami-rich miso paste adds savory depth to marinades. It’s wonderful combined with rice wine vinegar, sugar, and mirin (Japanese cooking wine) to marinate chicken, fish, or vegetables.
Salt: Whether kosher, table, sea salt, or a fancier smoked or flavored salt, salt is a key ingredient in marinades. It helps proteins bind with water molecules, letting marinades permeate thoroughly to keep meat juicy.
5. OTHER FLAVORINGS
Harissa: The piquant Tunisian red pepper paste harissa gives marinades a brilliant crimson hue and garlicky heat. Try mixing it with lemon juice, olive oil, and cumin to marinate chicken or pork.
Mustard: Its place at a cookout goes far beyond its use as a condiment for burgers and hot dogs; mustard gives marinades brash horseradish-like heat and a vinegar tang that offset meat’s richness.
Piloncillo: The smoky, caramel-like notes of piloncillo, unrefined Mexican brown sugar, make it ideal for grilled meats. Shaved or grated, it adds an earthy sweetness to marinades.
Spices: Whether toasted or raw, crushed or whole, spices give marinades warm, distinctive flavor. If using whole spices, such as cardamom pods, cinnamon bark, or star anise, remove them from the marinade prior to grilling.
Read More: Recipes for Grilled Lamb »
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Oils and Fats
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Enzymes
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Acidic Ingredients
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Salts and Savory Ingredients
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Other Flavorings
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