How to Make Your Own Italian Marinade

Tired of using store-bought salad dressings as marinades? Making your own tasty marinade is a lot simpler than you think. Here's how.

Things You Need:

½ cup of extra-virgin olive oil (peanut oil works fine too)
½ cup water
½ cup fresh lemon juice (go ahead, you can use the concentrate if you want)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon minced onions
1 large clove of garlic
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon red pepper seeds (cayenne powder is a good substitute)

Step 1

Prepare the onions and garlic. Press the garlic, making sure to capture any of the juices that escape. For the onion, make sure the pieces are minced finely. If chopping is not your thing, use a food processor.

Step 2

Combine the liquids in a large mixing bowl. Mix the oil, water, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and honey, using a wire whisk. Make sure they are blended thoroughly before moving on to the next step.

Step 3

Toss in the good stuff. Add the garlic and onions, the salt, oregano, and red pepper seeds. Use the wire whisk to blend these into the liquids. While you can use a blender, it's better to keep using the wire whisk.

Step 4

Let the marinade stand for about thirty minutes before using. This will allow time for the ingredients to begin mingling the way you want.

Tips and Warnings

This recipe can be adapted for special dietary needs. For diabetics who need to avoid honey, you can use a granulated artificial sweetener. Make sure to use one that is recommended for cooking, since the marinade will be used on foods that must be broiled or baked.

You can make the marinade a day or so in advance if necessary. Remember to use the whisk to blend the ingredients once last time before placing any type of meat or fish into the marinade.

This recipe can also be used as a salad dressing if you like.