Southwestern Marinade
Infuse your dishes with bold, zesty flavors using this quick and easy Southwestern Marinade, a perfect choice for grilling season or weeknight dinners. This vibrant blend combines olive oil, freshly squeezed lime juice, and a hint of honey for a balanced sweetness, complemented by earthy cumin, smoky paprika, and the gentle heat of chili powder and optional cayenne. Fresh cilantro adds a bright herbal pop to round out the flavor profile. Ideal for marinating chicken, beef, seafood, or vegetables, this marinade only takes 10 minutes to prepare and delivers rich, smoky, tangy goodness with every bite. Transform your recipes into Southwestern-inspired masterpieces with this versatile and flavorful marinade! Perfect for grilling, roasting, or pan-frying.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 0.25 cup olive oil
- 0.25 cup lime juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, lime juice, and honey. Whisk together until smooth and fully blended.
Add the ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using). Whisk again to incorporate all the spices evenly.
Stir in the chopped fresh cilantro, ensuring it's distributed throughout the mixture.
Use the marinade immediately by pouring it over your desired protein or vegetables. Ensure the ingredients are well-coated by tossing or turning them in the marinade.
Cover and refrigerate the marinated food for a minimum of 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for more intense flavor. Turn the food occasionally if possible.
Remove the marinated food from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature (about 10-15 minutes) before cooking.
Cook the marinated food as desired—grill, roast, pan-fry, or bake—and enjoy the bold Southwestern flavors!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
617 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 56.8 g | 73% | |
| Saturated Fat | 8.8 g | 44% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1235 mg | 54% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 28.7 g | 10% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.6 g | 9% | |
| Total Sugars | 18.4 g | ||
| Protein | 1.4 g | 3% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 45 mg | 3% | |
| Iron | 3.2 mg | 18% | |
| Potassium | 196 mg | 4% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
