BHA & BHT Free Cilantro-Lime Turmeric Marinade
Bright, citrusy, and golden with turmeric, this marinade is the kind of thing you'll want to keep on rotation all season long. Every ingredient is whole and recognizable — fresh lime juice, extra-virgin olive oil, real garlic, cilantro — which is exactly the point. Packaged marinades and sauces are notorious for sneaking in synthetic preservatives like BHA and BHT, so mixing your own from scratch is the cleanest way to get bold flavor without the additives. The turmeric and cumin give it a warm, earthy depth, while the lime zest keeps everything tasting alive and vibrant. A touch of raw honey and cayenne are optional, but both earn their place if you're after that sweet-heat balance. It works beautifully on chicken, fish, shrimp, or roasted vegetables — just give it at least 30 minutes to do its thing in the fridge. Make a batch on Sunday and you've got a flavor-packed head start on the whole week.
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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)
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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