Thai Pesto Marinade for Grilling
Transform your grilling game with this vibrant and zesty Thai Pesto Marinade! A fragrant blend of fresh cilantro, Thai basil, mint, and garlic gets a bold kick from bird’s eye chili, while lime juice, fish sauce, and toasted sesame oil add layers of tangy, salty, and nutty flavors. Finished with creamy coconut milk and the crunch of peanuts (optional), this marinade strikes the perfect balance between sweet, spicy, and savory. Perfect for chicken, shrimp, tofu, or grilled vegetables, it ensures every bite is infused with Thai-inspired flair. Ready in just 10 minutes, this marinade is your new go-to for quick, flavorful grilling. Make your barbecue unforgettable with this Thai Pesto recipe!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup, packed Fresh cilantro
- 1 cup, packed Fresh Thai basil
- 0.5 cup, packed Fresh mint leaves
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 medium Thai bird's eye chili (or red chili)
- 3 tablespoons Lime juice
- 1 tablespoon Fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons Coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons Peanuts (optional)
- 0.25 cup Neutral oil (e.g., vegetable or avocado oil)
Instructions
Rinse and roughly chop the fresh cilantro, Thai basil, and mint leaves. Set them aside.
Peel the garlic and slice the Thai bird's eye chili (remove the seeds for a milder spice level).
In a food processor or blender, combine the cilantro, Thai basil, mint, garlic, chili, and peanuts (if using). Pulse several times until the ingredients are coarsely chopped.
Add the lime juice, fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, toasted sesame oil, and coconut milk to the food processor. Blend again until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed.
With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the neutral oil until the mixture becomes a smooth pesto-like paste.
Taste the marinade and adjust seasoning, if necessary, by adding more lime juice, sugar, or chili to your preference.
Use immediately to marinate your choice of protein (chicken, shrimp, or tofu) or vegetables. For best results, marinate in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours before grilling.
Store any leftover marinade in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
995 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 82.7 g | 106% | |
| Saturated Fat | 11.7 g | 58% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1877 mg | 82% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 64.0 g | 23% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 22.2 g | 79% | |
| Total Sugars | 20.3 g | ||
| Protein | 23.9 g | 48% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 933 mg | 72% | |
| Iron | 32.1 mg | 178% | |
| Potassium | 2248 mg | 48% | |
*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.
