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Karen's Lemon-Oregano Marinade ~ with Perfect Grilled Chicken

Karen's Lemon-Oregano Marinade ~ with Perfect Grilled Chicken

A Hearty & Zesty Marinade adds tons of tang and pungency to Chicken! Coat chicken with this zesty marinade for 2 hours - a flavor-bomb!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Karen Sheer a zest for life
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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
  • 2 medium garlic cloves peeled and minced
  • 2 tablespoons lemon rind from one large lemon (see note)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 3 pinches chili flakes

Instructions

The Marinade:

  • Add the olive oil to a small 8" pan. Add mustard seeds and raise heat to slow simmer. When you hear a "popping noise" and oil is bubbly - in about 1 1/2 minutes - that's the mustard seeds... stir up and remove from heat. Let cool 2 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and lemon rind off heat, stir well. Let stand 2 minutes (not too hot), add the oregano leaves, salt & pepper, lemon juice and chili flakes. Stir all together.

How to Use the Marinade:

  • Add the cooled marinade to 1 pound of boneless chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins. Do so in a glass container with a good lid - cover tightly and shake to distribute the marinade. (some like to use a plastic ziplock bag.)
    Place in the refrigerator for TWO HOURS - not more.

To Grill the Chicken:

  • Remove the marinade from the chicken to a small skillet with a rubber spatula. (This will be a sauce for the chicken - or a dressing for a salad with the chicken.) Bring to a boil and simmer a minute or two, fights away any bacteria.
  • Clean your grates, oil them and grill the chicken over LOW-MEDIUM heat... not higher. When strong grill marks are on the first side, turn over with tongs and cook second side until lightly golden, internal temperature - 165 degrees.
  • Remove the chicken to a plate and pour ALL of the reserved simmered marinade over (now your sauce, or cooled dressing ), let cool. Then cut 1/2 " pieces on the diagonal and serve.
    Can serve the chicken over rice, or in my Fennel Salad and Perfect Grilled Chicken... delicious!

Notes

I use a citrus/lemon zester - to get long strands of lemon zest from a lemon. 
This recipe may not be reproduced without the consent of its author, Karen Sheer. 
or dressing 
COURSE: Main Course, Marinade
CUISINE: American
KEYWORDS: Best Lemon Marinade, Lemon-Oregano Marinade, Lemon-Oregano Marinade for Chicken
Nutrition Facts
Karen's Lemon-Oregano Marinade ~ with Perfect Grilled Chicken
Amount per Serving
Calories
256
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
27
g
42
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
20
g
Sodium
 
294
mg
13
%
Potassium
 
63
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
 
4
g
1
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
1
g
2
%
Vitamin A
 
68
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
 
9
mg
11
%
Calcium
 
51
mg
5
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.