A good marinade can take a dish from just fine to absolutely delicious. But store-bought varieties are often packed with added sugar, salt and unhealthy oils. What’s the solution? Make your own! Homemade marinades offer the same delectable flavor without the unhealthy additives. They’re easy to whip up, and you can adapt your marinades to suit your family’s preferences.

Start Simple With These Recipes

The hardest part of learning how to make a marinade is figuring out which flavor combinations work well together. If you’re new to DIY marinades, keep it simple by combining three tablespoons of low-sodium soy sauce, two teaspoons of vinegar and three minced garlic cloves with a splash of olive oil. Whisk or shake until combined, and refrigerate until needed.

Trying to eat healthier? See more delicious recipes.

More Flavor Combinations

• Olive oil, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, minced garlic and rosemary.
• Olive oil, lemon juice, dill, minced garlic and a half teaspoon or less of honey.
• Water, vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic, thyme, Italian seasoning and rosemary.

Unique Recipes to Try

Once you get the hang of making your own marinades, try these recipes:

• Add a light fruity taste to your chicken dishes with this pineapple chicken marinade.
• This garlic lemon marinade has a secret ingredient for a little spicy kick: jalapenos!
• Greek yogurt adds flavor and an extra dose of protein to your meal. Try this simple recipe from Skinny Chef.
• Soy sauce, basil and olive oil make for a great, easy steak marinade. Get the recipe here.
• Perfect for salmon, this Asian-inspired recipe combines honey, garlic and ginger.

Tips for Using Your Marinades

For each pound of meat, you’ll need a half-cup of marinade or a tablespoon of dry rub. When you’re working with beef, pork or chicken, simply pour the right amount of your homemade marinade into a zip-top bag, add your meat and let it soak for at least two hours.

Fish only needs to be marinated for about an hour before grilling. For other seafood (such as shrimp) and vegetables, brushing the marinade on just before grilling will provide plenty of flavor.

Do you have any favorite homemade marinade recipes? Let us know in the comments.

Leah Newman

Leah Newman is a freelance writer with particular interest in health and wellness, law, and personal finance. Her background is in journalism, and includes several years as a staff writer and editor at a daily newspaper. She has previously worked at the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, YMCA Camp Widjiwagan and Atlanta Motor Speedway. Leah lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

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