Parsley Cilantro Marinade and Dipping Sauce

We’re breaking away from our current Hawaii programming to bring you the latest Grow Your Own post direct from our summer garden. This marinade is mixed up like a pesto and flavored somewhat like a chimichurri without the extra liquid. Last week I grabbed some fresh parsley and cilantro as well as a few snips of oregano from our outdoor garden, tossed in some fresh garlic, olive oil, and a little water, then let the food processor do the work. We used it as a marinade for grilled chicken breasts and served them with grilled corn and a simple green salad. Shrimp or a good firm fish will also work well, just reduce the marinading time to about 30 minutes or so. The marinade adds a lot of flavor to light and easy meals for busy, hot summer days.

This is my contribution to Grow Your Own, a blogging event that celebrates the dishes we create from foods we’ve grown, raised, foraged, or hunted ourselves. The event now happens twice a month, and I am hosting this round. The deadline for entries is tomorrow July 15, so you still have time to join in. Check out the Grow Your Own page for instructions and send me your entry!

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Equipment

food processor

Ingredients

1 cup (40 grams) packed fresh parsley leaves
1 cup (40 grams) packed fresh cilantro
2 or 3 stems of fresh oregano, leaves stripped
3 cloves fresh garlic, peeled and crushed
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons water or fresh lemon juice

Preparation

1. In the bowl of the food processor, add the parsley, cilantro, garlic, and olive oil. Process for about 20 to 30 seconds, then drizzle in the water or lemon juice. Process for about 15 seconds more.

2. MARINADE: Rub the marinade over the surface of chicken, fish, or shrimp. Reserve some sauce for dipping when served, and place meat in a plastic bag. Keep refrigerated. Leave the fish or shrimp for about 30 minutes or so, and the chicken for several hours or overnight.