Personalize Your Own Marinade
Feel like experimenting? Try inventing your own signature marinade using Kikkoman Sauces and Marinades as a base. Marinades are extremely forgiving when it comes to adding your own ingredients and spices, and they're an ideal way to add your own personal touch.
The Music of Marinades
A basic marinade is usually composed of three complementary elements, which work harmoniously together like the notes on a piano keyboard:
 | Acid: An acidic element, such as vinegar, wine, lemon juice, or even yogurt, tenderizes meat. With fish, acids work to "cook" and firm fibers, such as in a ceviche. For this reason, fish should not be marinated overnight. Like the "ping" of the high notes on a piano, acidic ingredients also add "bright" flavors to balance the underlying sweet and savory ones. |
| Savory: A savory element, such as Kikkoman Soy Sauce, gives a marinade its robust, base flavor, acting like the bass notes of the keyboard. Naturally brewed Kikkoman Soy Sauce has more than 285 flavor and aroma components to meld marinade ingredients beautifully and enhance the flavor of other ingredients without overpowering them. |
| Sweet: A touch of sugar, honey, fruit or molasses provides a pleasant flavor counterpoint—the "Middle C" that balances and brings out both the deep savory and bright acidic elements. |
Once you've got the basic blend of acid, sweet and savory worked out, add other ingredients to complement the food you're marinating. Rosemary and thyme are great with lamb and beef, while tarragon and oregano are delicious with chicken. And don't forget to add aromatics like garlic and onion. Before you know it, you'll be making beautiful music in the kitchen!
Or, even easier, start with any one of our Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauces and Marinades as a base and customize it to add your own signature. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
