Yogurt marinade provides the perfect acid and enzyme parts needed to tenderize meat.
The lactic acid in yogurt really does amazing things.
I remember my very first medium rare steak.
My husband cooked it for me and it was amazing!
This was just a few months before he proposed to me (and this is the real reason why I married him ; ).
At that time the thought of eating “bloody” steak or any meat even remotely pink was repulsive to me.
This steak however, was so good.
The kind of good that makes your jaw feel funny because it makes your salivory glands go crazy.
I guess that’s where we get the term “mouth-watering.”
The whole sensory experience of that sunny afternoon will always be etched in my memory. Isn’t it amazing what good food can do?
The thing that made that steak so good, besides it being cooked right, was the marinade that he used.
It was just some basic ingredients he threw in the day before like garlic, vinegar, oil and spices.
I’ve always been into marinades since then and
I was thrilled to discover that I can use my homemade yogurt to make perfect marinades.
Basic Yogurt Marinade with Herbs
A simple marinade for fish or chicken.
Ingredients:
2 cups plain yogurt
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, pressed
2 tsp. fresh or dried basil
2 tsp. fresh or dried oregano
1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
Directions:
Combine all ingredients pour over meat, cover, and chill for 6-10 hours.
Cilantro Marinade
(Adapted from the Nourishing Traditions cookbook)
Ingredients:
1 bunch of cilantro, washed and chopped
1 cup plain yogurt
juice of one lemon or lime
3 cloves of garlic, mashed
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
freshly ground pepper
Directions:
Combine all ingredients pour over meat, cover, and chill for 6-10 hours.
Teriyaki Inspired Marinade
Yogurt Marinade Magic
Sucessful marinades have an acidic part, such as lemon juice or vinegar and a oil part.
Yogurt, with it’s enzyme content and lactic acid is perfect for marinades.
These enzymes and acid work their magic to pre-digest the meat and improve nutritional value.
A wonderful marinade for chicken or duck.
Ingredients:
1 cup plain yogurt
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon raw honey
1/4 cup olive oil
Directions:
Combine yogurt, soy sauce, and garlic.
Drizzle oil into mixture slowly while mixing with a fork.
Pierce meat with a fork and place in a shallow dish. Pour over meat, cover, and chill for 8-10 hours.
Garlic Yogurt Marinade
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups plain yogurt
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, minced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large baking dish.
Cut several slits in meat and place in dish. Turn to coat each piece. Cover and chill for 2-24 hours, turning meat occasionally.