Consider the type of food being cooked before choosing the tenderizer for an olive oil marinade. Extra virgin olive oil is the main ingredient, and a tenderizing agent like vinegar, citrus juice or alcohol should be added. Seasonings like Italian herbs, sweet spices, and cayenne pepper can be added for flavor.
Cooks looking for the best recipe or pre-prepared bottle of olive oil marinade should start by first considering the type of food they will be cooking. This will help them determine the tenderizer that will pair best with their food. Once the basic ingredients of oil and vinegar or wine have been established, they can then decide on the blend of herbs and spices that will taste best with the other food items that will be served on their menu.
An olive oil marinade can be mixed at home or purchased in a complete form from the grocery store. The olive oil acts as a binding agent that brings the different flavors of the marinade together and adheres them to the cooking meat or vegetables. This basic main ingredient should typically be extra virgin. This is the oil obtained from the initial pressing of the olives and is both flavorful and subtle. Cooks can purchase this item to use in their own marinade creations, or they can check the ingredient label on pre-mixed marinades to find out what type of oil is used.
A tenderizing agent should also be included in the marinade, which softens the meat or vegetables before they are cooked. This can take the form of a vinegar, citrus juice, or alcohol. These ingredients should generally be blended equally with the olive oil to create a rich, powerful flavor.
The choice of tenderizing agent used in the olive oil marinade should be based on the type of food being prepared. Red wine vinegars, red wines, and port add slightly deep, bitter notes to the marinade and blend well with red meats, such as steak, ribs, and a London grill. White vinegars can be somewhat sweet and are commonly used on chicken and vegetables. These include rice wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, and table vinegar. Citrus juice, such as lemon, lime and orange juice, is often paired with chicken or fish.
Any type of seasoning can be combined with the olive oil and tender agent to create a delicious signature dish. Shallots, which are small, very flavorful onions, can be mixed into red wine-based marinades and cooked with roasted or grilled meat. Sweet spices like allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon often pair well with pork and ham, which can be cooked with other sweet fruits and juices. Crushed cayenne pepper and jalapenos can be added to these blends to create a spicy Caribbean “jerk” effect on grilled meat.
Italian herbs, such as basil, rosemary, thyme and oregano are often found in all types of olive oil marinades, regardless of the additional ingredients. These herbs are fresh, intoxicating, and complement just about any meat and any style of meal. They also cook well on vegetables.
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