Sometimes meat just needs a little extra love before it's ready for the grill.
Marinades are flavor-infusing liquids best suited for tougher cuts of meat. In addition to herbs, condiments, spices, and oils, marinades typically include an acid, like lemon juice, wine, vinegar, even dairy.
Adding sweet ingredients to the marinade can help form appealing caramelized, crispy coatings on grilled meats.
Place your meat and marinade into a canister and vacuum seal.
1 hour under vacuum seal is equivalent to 24 hours in your fridge!
And remember, if you're basting with a liquid in which raw meat marinated, do not apply it during the last three minutes of grilling. Below you'll find some of our favourite marinades, for both meat and vegetables, enjoy!
Marinade for Chicken
Makes 4 cups
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/3 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons finely minced fresh parsley
In a medium bowl, mix together oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, wine vinegar, and lemon juice.
Stir in mustard powder, salt, pepper, and parsley. Use to marinate chicken before cooking as desired.
Vacuum seal in a canister and leave in the fridge for 1 hour or longer.
Marinated Grilled Shrimp
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
skewers
In a large bowl, stir together the garlic, olive oil, tomato sauce, and red wine vinegar. Season with basil, salt, and cayenne pepper. Add shrimp to the bowl, and stir until evenly coated.
Vacuum seal in a canister, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour, stirring once or twice. Preheat grill for medium heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers, piercing once near the tail and once near the head. Discard marinade.
Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp on preheated grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until opaque.
Marinade for Steak
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons red wine
2 tablespoons tomato sauce (ketchup) or barbecue sauce
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 teaspoon dried herbs
good grinding black pepper (or crushed chili to taste)
Combine all ingredients in a non-metallic bowl.
Add steak and spoon over marinade.
Vacuum seal and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
When ready to cook remove meat from marinade, pat dry with paper towels and cook as usual.
Apple Cider Steak Marinade
1 part Apple Cider
1/2 part Soy Sauce
Tablespoon oil (Vegetable/Olive/other)
Marinade your favorite dense meat for 1 hour under vacuum seal in the combined ingredients.
Pan-fry till brown.
Italian-Style Marinade
1/3 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cup red wine
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon thyme
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 small onion, sliced thinly
3 cloves garlic, minced[/tab] [tab]
Combine and use to marinate steak or vegetables for 1 hour or overnight.