Marinade for Beef or Pork
This marinade would go nicely with up to two pounds of beef steak that is going to be grilled or broiled. The recipe is very adaptable, and can easily be doubled if you're planning to barbecue for a crowd.
Preparation time: 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS | YIELDS about 1¼ cup
- ½ cup soy sauce (such as Kikkoman)
- 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons liquid honey
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, red wine vinegar, and vegetable oil. Whisk in the remaining ingredients.
Pour the marinade over the meat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Discard the excess marinade before cooking, or boil for 5 minutes if planning to use as a basting sauce for the meat.
What Makes a Marinade?
A good marinade tenderizes and enhances the flavor of meat, poultry, and seafood. All marinades contain an acid — such as flat beer, lemon juice, vinegar, or soy sauce — that flavors and tenderizes food by breaking down its proteins. A combination of herbs and spices is usually added for extra flavor. Finally, vegetable oil may be added to disperse the flavor more quickly, and help prevent the food from drying out.
