Low Sugar Cilantro-Lime Turmeric Marinade
Bright, herby, and deeply aromatic, this marinade brings together fresh lime, golden turmeric, and a generous handful of cilantro into something that genuinely transforms whatever it touches. Every ingredient earns its place — the olive oil carries the fat-soluble spices, the lime juice tenderizes and brightens, and the garlic and cumin add a warm, savory backbone. For anyone keeping a close eye on added sugars, store-bought marinades are a minefield of hidden sweeteners, but this one is built entirely from whole, real ingredients. The optional raw honey is just that — optional — so you stay fully in control of what goes into the bowl. It works beautifully on chicken, shrimp, tofu, or roasted vegetables, and the flavors actually deepen the longer it sits in the fridge. Whisk it together in minutes, let your protein soak for anywhere from half an hour to a full eight hours, and you've got a weeknight dinner that tastes like you planned it days in advance.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, finely chopped
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 tsp raw honey (optional)
Can be omittedraw honey
Instructions
- 1
Zest and juice the limes directly into a small bowl, catching any seeds.
- 2
Add the olive oil, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, turmeric, cumin, black pepper, and salt to the bowl. Add the cayenne and honey, if using. Whisk until the oil and lime juice are fully combined and the mixture looks uniform.
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