How To

How to Make a Greek Lemon-Herb Marinade

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(29 Ratings)

This marinade, my grandmother's recipe, is a common flavoring agent in Greek food. It uses three ingredients common in Greek cooking: olive oil, lemon and oregano. It can be used to marinate vegetables, meat or fish, and it can also be used as a basting sauce when cooking. This recipe makes about a cup of marinade.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • 2/3 c. olive oil
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/4 c. or more fresh oregano leaves
  • 1 tsp. fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • Groceries
  • Chef's Knives
  • Chef's Knives
  • Fruit And Vegetable Peelers
  • Mixing Bowls
  • Serving Platters
  • Mixing bowls
  1. Step 1

    Peel off one or two long strips of lemon zest with a vegetable peeler. Be careful to take just the the yellow zest, leaving the bitter white pith behind.

  2. Step 2

    Mince the lemon zest finely - you should have about a tablespoon or so. Don't worry about exact measurements.

  3. Step 3

    Place the zest in a mixing bowl with the salt and pepper.

  4. Step 4

    Chop the oregano leaves roughly and add them to the bowl.

  5. Step 5

    Grind or firmly mash the dry ingredients together with a sturdy wooden spoon, as if you were using a mortar and pestle. This helps free the essential oils in the lemon and oregano and blend them in with the salt and pepper.

  6. Step 6

    Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice from both halves into the bowl.

  7. Step 7

    Drizzle in the olive oil in a thin steady stream, whisking constantly with a wire whisk.

  8. Step 8

    Use the mixture to marinate food before cooking or as a basting sauce when grilling or roasting food.

Tips & Warnings
  • This marinade can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for several weeks. Mix or shake it well before using.
  • Because this marinade contains acid and salt, it's best for short periods of time. Vegetables and seafood should marinate no longer than an hour; meat and poultry should no longer than three hours.
  • Marinate foods in the refrigerator.
  • Once you've used a marinade for raw meat, fish or poultry, discard it immediately after use.

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