Next Time You Make Meat Marinade, Add A Scoop Of This Creamy Pantry Staple

A splash of meat sauce, pinches of your favorite spices, some olive oil, maybe a squeeze of lemon, and in a few whisks, your marinade has come together. It's easy and convenient like that, a routine built straight from the pantry. In the midst of this repetition, there's one marvelous ingredient you may have overlooked, and that's nut butter. Good for more than just breakfast toasts and homemade pastries, this ingredient is also a bona fide marinade game-changer.

By now, you have probably already chosen the right nut butter for you. Whether it's peanut butter, almond butter, or any other variety, rest assured, it's still the boost your marinade needs. The nutty richness only makes that savory and umami flavor base even more impactful; every note brings utter satisfaction as it seeps into the meat fibers. Pay closer attention, and you will find other nuances, like the touch of sweetness that lingers after the nutty taste has faded, or the way its creamy nature softens away sharp acidic or spicy edges. If you ever accidentally add too much chili or hot sauce, keep in mind that nut butter can also deliciously tame too spicy food.

Another hallmark of a great marinade is its texture, which should be rich enough to fully coat the meat and thoroughly tenderize it. This is how nut butter's ultra-thickness and spreadability come in handy. In the end, not only is the meat imbued with gorgeous flavors, but it also carries an exterior luscious enough to have mouths watering.

A beloved staple through and through, you can rarely go wrong with peanut butter. It's just the flavor and texture enhancement for a typical soy-sauce-based meat marinade. Suppose you ever want to go beyond the simple salt and pepper routine; it even works for grilled steaks. Within the same mixture, you can also diversify the taste profile, perhaps with something intensely aromatic like grated ginger, or by utilizing your favorite chili paste for a kick of heat.

In Indonesian cuisine, peanut butter is actually a very common marinade/sauce component in a popular dish called satay (or sate ayam). It features grilled meat skewers (typically chicken, pork, or beef) served with a blend of peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, aromatics, and fresh herbs. Adapted into the streets of Thailand, it also includes coconut milk, tamarind paste, and fish sauce. Either version works spectacularly whenever your cookout needs something new and different. Transform it into a spicy chicken satay bowl and have yourself an easy lunch or dinner, too!

Other types of nut butter are no less fantastic. A dollop of cashew butter can really jazz up your BBQ sauce, and if you'd like to bring forth its subtle sweetness, drizzle in fruit jam or syrup. Almond butter, sweet and earthy in a way that perfectly complements most meats' savory tone, is another perfect candidate. You can use it for a satay marinade, or blend it with vinegar, smoked spices, sesame oil, chili pastes, and many other marinade staples. The final product works just as well for grilled meat as it does for roasted veggies and glazed plant-based proteins — think tofu and tempeh.