Cinnamon Free Citrus-Garlic Marinade

Total time10 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time0 min

4.5

(16)

Bright, punchy, and deeply aromatic, this marinade layers fresh citrus with garlic, ginger, and woody herbs for a flavor combination that works beautifully on chicken, pork, or fish. The base is built from freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice, which gives it a natural acidity that tenderizes protein without any of the warm baking spices that can sneak into store-bought blends. That's actually great news for anyone navigating a cinnamon sensitivity — so many bottled marinades and spice rubs lean on it heavily, but every ingredient here is straightforward and easy to verify. A hit of turmeric adds earthy depth and a gorgeous golden color, while fresh thyme and rosemary bring that herby, almost Mediterranean quality that makes the whole thing smell incredible. A tablespoon of raw honey is optional but rounds out the citrus with just a touch of sweetness. The whole thing comes together with a 30-second whisk, and it keeps in the fridge for up to three days, so you can prep ahead and have dinner more or less ready to go. It's the kind of simple, confident marinade that makes whatever you're cooking taste like you really knew what you were doing.

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Ingredients

4 servings

¼ cup fresh orange juice (from about 1 medium orange)
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
1 tsp lemon zest
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, finely minced or grated
1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 tsp turmeric
½ tsp fine sea salt
1 tbsp raw honey (optional)

Instructions

1
Juice the orange and lemon into a small bowl, then finely grate the lemon zest directly into the bowl.
2
Add the olive oil, garlic, ginger, thyme, rosemary, turmeric, and salt to the citrus mixture. Add the honey, if using.

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