Sesame Free Citrus-Garlic Marinade

Total time10 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time0 min

4.5

(16)

Bright citrus, pungent garlic, and warm spices come together in a marinade that makes chicken, pork, or fish taste like something you'd order at a restaurant. Fresh orange and lemon juice form the tangy backbone, while grated ginger and turmeric add depth and a gorgeous golden hue that clings beautifully to whatever protein you're working with. Rosemary and thyme keep things herbaceous and aromatic, and a drizzle of raw honey rounds out the acidity without making things sweet. So many store-bought marinades and Asian-inspired sauces sneak in tahini or sesame oil, which can make label-reading a real chore — this one is built entirely from scratch with whole, recognizable ingredients, so there's no guesswork involved. It comes together in under a minute with a quick whisk, and it keeps in the fridge for up to three days, making it a great prep-ahead option for busy weeknights. Whether you're soaking chicken thighs for a few hours or giving a fish fillet a quick 30-minute bath, the result is juicy, flavorful, and genuinely impressive.

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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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