Vegetables Marinades Done Right
Marinades for vegetables allow you to add a ton of flavour to them to spice up your meal. If you have used the best pork marinades the past, you must be familiar with how it works. However, if you have never made a marinade before, there is no need to worry as we look at how you can marinade vegetables.
What Is A Marinade?
Before we take a look at the marinades for vegetables, it is important to know what a marinade is. It is a type of sauce which adds flavours to the vegetables. You have to soak the vegetables for a while in order for it to be effective. The marinade is basically an acidic sauce which penetrates deep into the vegetables and adds flavour.
If you plan to use a marinade for a glaze or sauce later, you must save it in an extra container. Once the vegetables have been marinated, you can start cooking them immediately. Unlike meat which needs to be marinated for quite some time, vegetables do not need to be marinated for as long. This means that you can start cooking them right away rather than having to wait around.
To get the most of the marinade, you need to place the vegetables in a bowl full of marinade. It will allow them to absorb the marinade. Make sure to place a lid on the container before placing it in the refrigerator. Generally, meats take longer to be marinated, whereas, vegetables can be marinated in record time. You do not need to wait up to 2 days to use the marinade.
Now, if you plan on taking the marinated vegetables with you on the go, you must keep them cool during transit. You must keep food safety and cool temperature in mind if taking the marinated vegetables with you. To keep the marinated vegetables cool, you must bring plenty of ice with you.
How Should You Use the Marinade?
Not every vegetable is the same. Some vegetables need to be left for longer as compared to others. Typically larger vegetables would take longer to marinate, whereas, small vegetables will marinate a lot faster. You can marinate the vegetables along with the meat for the best of both worlds.
How Can You Prepare A Basic Marinade For Vegetables?
To prepare a basic marinade for vegetables, you will need to following ingredients.
- An acid (Yoghurt, citrus juice, wine, or vinegar).
- Oil (Either olive oil or any other vegetable oil).
- Honey Garlic Marinade
- Aromatics (Ginger, garlic, and onion).
- Salty (Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce).
- Original BBQ Sauce
- Heat (Chilli peppers, hot sauce, or red pepper flakes).
- Spices or herbs (Clove, cinnamon, cumin, oregano, or rosemary).
- Soy & Lime Marinade
When it comes to the most basic marinade, it is Italian dressing. To make an Italian dressing, you only need basic ingredients. You can either mix the Italian dressing with the meal or pour it over the meat. When you mix the marinade, you should add a fourth of marinade for each pound of vegetables or meat.