Are you tired of bland, boring chicken that leaves you dreaming of restaurant-quality flavors? Get ready to transform your ordinary meals into a Mexican-inspired culinary adventure with this mind-blowing Cilantro Lime Marinade! This vibrant, fresh recipe is about to become your new secret weapon in the kitchen, promising to elevate your chicken from mundane to magnificent with just a few simple ingredients and minimal effort.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: -
Total Time: 10 mins
Cuisine: Mexican
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- 2 limes, juiced
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry fresh cilantro leaves, removing any tough stems.
- Peel and roughly chop garlic cloves to prepare them for blending.
- Cut limes in half and juice them completely, removing any seeds.
- In a food processor or blender, combine fresh cilantro, minced garlic, lime juice, olive oil, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
- Pulse or blend the ingredients until a smooth, vibrant green marinade forms with a consistent texture.
- Taste the marinade and adjust seasoning if needed, adding more salt, pepper, or cumin to suit your preference.
- Pour marinade over chicken in a large resealable plastic bag or non-reactive container.
- Ensure chicken is completely coated with marinade, massaging it gently to cover all surfaces.
- Refrigerate and let chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for maximum flavor infusion.
- Remove chicken from marinade before cooking, discarding remaining liquid for food safety.
Tips
- Use fresh ingredients: The key to an exceptional marinade is using fresh cilantro and freshly squeezed lime juice. Avoid bottled lime juice for the most vibrant flavor.
- Don't over-marinate: While the marinade is delicious, limit marinating time to 4 hours max. The acid in lime juice can start to break down chicken proteins if left too long.
- Pat chicken dry before cooking: Remove excess marinade and pat the chicken dry to ensure a perfect sear and prevent steaming.
- Temperature matters: Let the marinated chicken sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking.
- Versatility tip: This marinade works wonderfully not just with chicken, but also with fish, shrimp, or even as a salad dressing!
- Storage hack: If you have leftover marinade, you can freeze it in ice cube trays for future use, preserving that fresh flavor for weeks.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 131kcal
Carbohydrates: 3g
Protein: g
Fat: g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 0mg
