Mom's Favorites: Marinade the Easy Way or the Hard Way

Ok so tonight I'm going back to the marinade well with 2 different recipes that go excellent on chicken. For those of you who don't fancy yourselves as chefs, one will most definitely intimidate you more than the other. I say they are both easy to do .. you just need to get over your fear of strange ingredients. I highly recommend both as they have unique flavors and you'll think you just got some restaurant quality food!

Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce/Marinade

Ingredients:
1 medium onion, chopped               2 tbsp. oil                      2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 c. water                                      1/4 c. peanut butter      1 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. chili powder                          2 tbsp. lemon juice       2 tbsp. soy sauce
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, saute onion in oil until tender.
2. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer.
3. Add water, peanut butter, sugar and chili powder. 
4. Bring to a boil.
5. Cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until slightly thick.
6. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, soy sauce and salt. 
7. Marinate your chicken in it and reserve some for dipping.

Tandoori Yogurt Marinade (get ready to check out your spice aisle!)

Ingredients:

1 tsp. chili powder            1 tsp. ground turmeric          1 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. garam masala        1 tsp. cinnamon                    4 onions, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced    1 1/4 c. plain yogurt              juice of 2 lemons

5 tbsp. peanut oil             5 tbsp. tomato paste             2 tbsp. brown sugar

2 tsp. ginger                     2 tbsp. white wine vinegar

Directions:

1. Mix all the dry spices together.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and stir thoroughly.
3. Pour over meat and cover tightly.
4. Let marinate for up to 2 hours for fish/seafood or overnight for meat or poultry.

See....both are easy to whip up. But, I guarantee the Tandoori one has you quaking in your boots. You may just have to get adventurous in that spice aisle and/or the international aisle.  If you've ever had Indian food, you'll know this is well worth it. And, added bonus, for spending that extra money in the spice aisle, I promise you I will share my chicken tikka masala recipe so you have 2 reasons to keep garam masala and turmeric in your cabinet.

As always, have fun!