Having lived in the south for the last several years, year-round, backyard barbecues have become a normal occurrence at our home. As such, assorted homemade and commercial marinades have taken up permanent resident in our kitchen. Here’s a quick look at a few of our favorite ones:
Goya’s Mojo Criollo
I love Goya’s Mojo Criollo so much, that I keep a bottle of it on the wine rack inside my refrigerator, year-round. It will generally cost you $3 or less a bottle and its available through most major grocers. It is a citrus based product with undertones of garlic and onion. The longer you let the meat marinade in the mojo criollo, the more flavorful it will become. We primarily use it to marinate chicken, pork and fish. Based on my experience, I’d suggest making multiple, deep punctures in the chicken before you place it into the mojo criollo. Doing so allows it to be absorbed deep into the chicken. In order to get the best flavor, I’d also recommend letting the chicken sit in the marinade for 24 to 72 hours. You’ll also want to turn or baste the chicken with the marinade at least once during that time period.
Sesame Marinade
Sesame marinade is another one that is popular in our household. It is made from equal parts of sesame oil, olive oil and sherry. You’ll also need to add equal tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice and soy sauce. Whisk it all together and add minced garlic and toasted sesame seeds. If you can’t find sesame seed oil at your local grocery store, I’d suggest buying a 16 fluid ounce bottle online. You can typically purchase one through a specialty retailer for $14. A pound of hulled sesame seeds will usually cost you $7.
Coconut, Honey and Lime Marinade
In my opinion, coconut, honey and lime marinade works very well on chicken. In order to make it you’ll need a can of unsweetened coconut milk, chopped red chilies, ground ginger, lime juice, honey, green onions and olive oil. Whisk all the ingredients together and let the chicken marinate in it for 24 hours or less. You may also want to add some sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
Oyster Sauce Marinade
Oyster sauce marinade make for a tasty grilled piece of chicken providing you don’t go too overboard with the ingredients. Bottled oyster sauce and soy sauce can be incredibly strong and high in sodium, so I like to combined 2 to 3 tablespoons of each with other ingredients. I’ll dilute the strong flavors of the soy sauce and oyster sauce a bit by whisking it into unsalted chicken stock and water. I’ll also add a bit of sugar and minced garlic to taste.
Killeen Gonzalez enjoys the great outdoors with her family and has traveled extensively.
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