This Jalapeno Marinade is a game-changer for grilling. Simply blend all the ingredients to your desired chunky texture, marinate, and enjoy the rich flavors. It infuses your meats and veggies with a spicy, tangy kick.
I often relied on store-bought marinades until I started exploring and experimenting with my jalapeno marinade. This is one of my proud recipes, allowing me to explore even more(like this jalapeno cheese stick).
It's a simple yet versatile marinade that complements a variety of proteins and even plant-based options.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe?
⭐️Perfect Pairing for Summer Gatherings.
⭐️Effortless Prep Work.
⭐️Customizable Heat Levels.
⭐️Hit with the Crowd.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Jalapeños: Remove the central white membrane and seeds if you prefer less heat, or reserve them to add later based on your heat tolerance.
- Garlic: You can substitute bottled minced garlic or garlic powder.
- Cilantro: If you're not a fan of cilantro, you can substitute it with parsley or skip it entirely.
- Oil: I highly recommend using olive oil as it combines with the jalapeños to bring out bold flavors. However, you can swap it with avocado or grapeseed oil also.
- Lime Juice: Lime juice balances the heat. You can substitute it with lemon juice, white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
- Honey is an optional ingredient that balances the flavors. It does not add sweetness, but it does add depth.
- Cumin: Ground cumin adds a warm flavor that complements this recipe well.
How To Make Jalapeno Marinade?
- Prepare the Jalapeños: Slice open the jalapeno and remove the seeds and the white membrane. Depending on your heat tolerance, reserve them and add them to the blender,
- Blend the Ingredients: Add the jalapeños, garlic, cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, honey, salt, and ground cumin to a blender jar.
- Pulse the Ingredients: Blend everything until all the ingredients are well-blended into a smooth paste.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste and tweak the seasoning if necessary. If you want more heat, toss another jalapeño or some extra seeds. And if you find the consistency too thick, you can quickly thin it out by adding olive oil or lime juice.
- Marinate: Combine chicken or steak with the jalapeno marinade to coat evenly. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Cook: Now you can grill, bake, roast, or sauté the meat or veggies according to your recipe or preference.
♨️How To Adjust The Heat?
This jalapeño marinade is moderately hot, but you can easily adjust it to be mild or medium by controlling the seeds and membranes.
Even after removing the seeds and membranes, the flesh of the jalapeños will still retain some heat, but the overall spiciness will be reduced.
Let me know if this works for you!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Adjust spice levels: See the section above on controlling the heat for detailed information.
- Jalapeño heat variability: Each jalapeño pepper can have different heat levels, even when they come from the same plant. To manage the heat, remove the seeds and membranes and add them back in small amounts until you reach your desired spice level.
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Storage & Reheating
- Leftover jalapeño marinade can be used in soups, stews, dipping sauces, or to spice up scrambled eggs.
- You can store the leftover marinade in the refrigerator for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months.
- Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, and add a splash of lemon juice to brighten up the flavors before using.
FAQ
The spiciness of the Jalapeno marinade depends on how many jalapeño seeds you leave in. Removing all the seeds will result in a milder marinade, while leaving some will make it spicier(like this Cajun coleslaw).
If you prefer a different level of spiciness or have difficulty finding jalapeños, you can substitute them with other chili peppers. However, remember that it may alter the overall flavor of the marinade.
Marinate your meat, chicken, or steak for at least 2 hours for the best flavor. However, if you want more intense flavors, you can marinate them for up to 24 hours.
More Jalapeno Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Jalapeño Marinade
Ingredients
- 3 jalapeños seeded and chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic roughly chopped
- ½ cup cilantro leaves
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey optional
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cumin optional
Instructions
- Slice open the jalapeno and remove the seeds(you can leave some or all for a spicier version).
- In a blender or food processor, combine the jalapeños, garlic, cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, honey (if using), salt, red pepper flakes, and cumin (if using).
- Pulse until all the ingredients are well-blended into a coarse texture.
- Taste the marinade and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Combine the meat and the marinade and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours for more flavor.
- Once marinated, cook your meat or vegetables as desired, like grilling or stir-frying.
Notes
Nutrition
Additional Info
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Beth says
I used this with my grilled chicken last night, and it was so good. I love that spicy kick!
DK says
Yes! I needed a spicy marinade for my pork chop recipe and this one was perfect! I also doubled the amount of garlic for that extra umami flavor and it turned out perfectly!