Required Items:

• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk or spoon
• Digital kitchen scale
• Airtight container or ziplock bag

Basic Ingredients:

• 100ml olive oil
• 50ml soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 2 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp mustard
• ½ tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
• ½ tsp chili flakes (optional for heat)
• Juice of 1 lemon

Preparation:

• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk well.
• Place the meat, fish, or vegetables in an airtight bag or dish.
• Pour the marinade over and make sure everything is well coated.
• Let it marinate for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.

Usage Tips:

• Pat the marinated meat dry before grilling to achieve a nice crust.
• Avoid using a marinade with sugar for high temperatures to prevent burning.
• Never reuse leftover marinade for food safety.

Variations per Meat Type:

For beef:

• Add 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce and 1 tsp ground coffee.
• Use red wine instead of lemon juice.

For pork:

• Add 1 tsp cinnamon and 50ml apple juice.
• Use brown sugar for a lightly caramelized flavor.

For chicken:

• Add 1 tsp curry powder and 100ml yogurt.
• Use lime juice instead of lemon juice.

For fish:

• Add 1 tsp dill and 1 tbsp mustard.
• Use white wine or orange juice as the base.

Tips:

• Use acidic ingredients like lemon juice or vinegar in moderation to avoid making the meat too tough.
• Add fresh herbs just before grilling for maximum flavor.
• Make marinades in larger quantities and store them in the fridge for quick use.

Expert Tip: When making a marinade for meat that needs to marinate for longer, such as beef, add the oil last. This prevents the oil from pushing the herbs and spices away too quickly, allowing the flavors to absorb better into the meat.

Happy marinating! Jan Luts