4 marinades for pork

Pork: the perfect marinade

Whether we are talking about pork chops , pork loin or fillet , the marinade serves to make the meat even more tender, more fragrant and rich in flavours. Whether you're preparing a pork loin recipe or pan-fried pork steaks , each cut of pork requires a dedicated marinade to create the perfect dish with that extra flavor. In addition to the ingredients used, the marinating time is also very important because it must be the ideal one to flavor the meat but without ruining it. The quantity of marinade must also be enough to be able to follow the entire duration of the recipe, to prevent the cut of meat from drying out too much. Another general rule for a perfect marinade is to know a typical composition: an oily part to fix everything, an acid part and one that includes spices and aromas.

The marinating time is also very important and depends a lot on the cut of the meat; taking care to remove the meat from the refrigerator at least half an hour before cooking it, the times are approximately as follows:

• 30 minutes for thin cuts such as loin slices ;
• 1 to 3 hours for steaks and pork chops ;
• 2 to 5 hours for more substantial parts such as pork shank;
• 6 to 10 hours for important parts such as pork shoulder and leg;

Finally, remember that it is preferable to marinate meat in metal, ceramic, glass or porcelain containers, because they do not contain substances that could be harmful and transfer to the meat. There are also many marinades on the market, just think of the seasonings for grilled meat - such as RUB - but some marinades, if prepared at home, and at the moment, will be able to give that truly authentic and personal taste. Here are the tastiest pork marinades that will delight you and your guests.

Citrus marinade

A marinade that recalls exotic aromas and a variant of a very tasty Cuban dish, but which goes perfectly for cooking pork fillet or chops both in the oven and in the pan.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 whole organic orange
• 1 whole organic lemon
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 sprig of fresh rosemary

How to marinate

In a bowl, pour the extra virgin olive oil, the juice and grated peel of the lemon and orange, the coarse salt, a clove of garlic and the rosemary. Emulsify everything.

Place the pork in a pan high enough to hold everything and sprinkle it with the marinade until it is covered. Cover with cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for 3 hours, turning occasionally to flavor the pork on all sides. After three hours, proceed with cooking.

Aromatic herb marinade for pork

An ideal marinade for medium, thicker cuts and suitable for preparing many recipes with pork. Perfect for preparing roast loin, baked pork shank and seasoned loin .

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 sprig of fresh rosemary
• 1/2 sprig of fresh thyme
• 1 glass of dry white wine
• 1 pinch of crushed fennel seeds
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Salt and Pepper To Taste

How to marinate

Pour the extra virgin olive oil, white wine, finely chopped rosemary and thyme, crushed garlic cloves, fennel seeds, salt and pepper into a bowl. Emulsify everything.

Place the pork in a baking dish high enough to contain everything and sprinkle it with the marinade until it is covered. Cover with cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for 5 hours, turning occasionally. Remove from the refrigerator and proceed with cooking.

Oriental marinade

Oriental cuisine is full of recipes with pork, every part of the animal is enhanced and used to cook tasty soups and very fragrant roasts, spices and soy sauce are the protagonists for a perfect marinade.

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons of acacia honey
• 2 tablespoons chopped or powdered fresh ginger
• 1 shallot
• 1/2 sprig of rosemary
• 1 clove of garlic
• chili pepper to taste
• peppercorns to taste

How to marinate

If you like a sweeter marinade, just mix the acacia honey with the soy sauce and immerse the chosen cut. Leave to marinate in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to 1 hour maximum, then you can cook it in a pan or sauté on the grill.

If you prefer a stronger and spicier flavour, place the soy sauce, chopped garlic, ginger, chilli pepper, peppercorns, rosemary and sliced ​​shallot in a glass baking dish. Place the meat and seal with cling film and marinate in the refrigerator for 3 hours. You can then brown the meat in a pan, sear it on the grill or in a grill pan.

Spicy marinade for pork

A perfect mix for grilled pork. If you want a ready-made marinade you can rely on Pork rub 18 , a calibrated but not too spicy mix of spices. If, however, you want a real "do it yourself" and slightly HOT marinade, the one we propose is particularly suitable for ribs and pork skewers .

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons chopped oregano
• 2 teaspoons of spicy paprika
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 1 teaspoon of spicy chili pepper
• 1 tablespoon coarse salt
• chopped fresh garlic

How to marinate

This marinade should be used both before and during cooking of the meat. Simply mix the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, rosemary, oregano and spices in a bowl and emulsify well.

Leave the meat to flavor for 3/5 hours - even a whole night if you can. Take it out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking it on the grill and continue brushing the meat even during cooking. If you particularly like spicy, try adding a few drops of Tabasco.