One of the questions I get asked a lot is about marinating smaller cuts of meat that may not need a 24-hour brine.
Whenever I buy lean protein, such as skinless, boneless chicken or boneless pork cutlets, I usually marinate it to help tenderize the meat. Today I’m making Yogurt Marinade
Greek yogurt is thicker with less liquid, and I think it clings to the meat much better than the regular variety.
You could add whatever dried spices you like, depending on the flavor profile you’re going for.
For example, center-cut boneless pork loin chops. I think marinating smaller cuts like this, around 1 inch thick, is an excellent candidate for #marinatewithyogurt.
Yogurt is naturally acidic and can act as a tenderizer. Other cultures have used yogurt for many years just for this reason.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 1 to 2 hours (times may vary depending on the thickness of the meat)
Equipment: large mixing bowl, plastic wrap
Ingredients for the Yogurt Marinade:
1 (24-ounce) container of Greek yogurt, full-fat
1 tablespoon of dried oregano
1 tablespoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, optional
1 tablespoon of kosher salt
1 teaspoon of black pepper, freshly-ground
Instructions for the Yogurt Marinade:
Add the Greek yogurt to a large mixing bowl. Add the spices, kosher salt, and fresh-ground black pepper. Mix to combine.
Submerge the pork (or chicken), one at a time, making sure they’re all completely coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. Times may vary depending on the thickness of the meat.
Once you’ve tried marinating this way, you’ll be amazed at how tender and flavorful chicken or pork will be.
There you have it, my Yogurt Marinade.
Note:
1) Linda Lou Hamel is not a nutritionist or dietitian, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and nutritional value are important to you, I recommend running the ingredients through a preferred online nutritional calculator of your choice. Calories and values can vary depending on the brands you choose.
Yogurt-Marinaded Pork
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl Large
- plastic wrap
Ingredients
- 24 ounces Greek yogurt Full-fat
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper Optional
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper Freshly-ground
Instructions
- Add the Greek yogurt to a large mixing bowl. Add the spices, kosher salt, and fresh-ground black pepper. Mix to combine.Submerge the pork (or chicken), one at a time, making sure they're all completely coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. Times may vary depending on the thickness of the meat.Once you've tried marinating this way, you'll be amazed at how tender and flavorful chicken or pork will be.There you have it, my Yogurt Marinade.
Notes
https://lindalouhamel.com/2019/07/10/summer-time-flowers-and-herbs/
https://lindalouhamel.com/2015/06/18/slow-simmered-southern-green-beans/
https://lindalouhamel.com/2015/06/16/oven-roasted-whole-grain-mustard-potatoes/
