Wondering what role marinating plays in meat preparation? It’s the marination process that gives chicken its distinct flavour. While chicken breading mix is crucial, without a marinade, chicken wouldn’t taste nearly as good. Marinades contain a variety of spices that penetrate deep into the meat, enhancing its flavour, providing the right level of spiciness, and ensuring the chicken remains juicy and tender.
Below, we’ll guide you through the process of marinating chicken to create the perfect base for a range of delicious dishes.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CHICKEN MARINADE
First and foremost – choosing the right marinade! This is a key decision. The flavour, quality, and consistency of your chicken-based dishes depend on the marinade you select. Make sure it is high-quality, easy to use, efficient, and practical. Holly Powder’s Chicken Marinade has been created with these needs in mind.
HOW TO MARINATE CHICKEN FILLETS WITH HOLLY POWDER MARINADE
Holly Powder Marinade is a dry, ready-to-use spice mix available in mild and spicy variants. Simply measure out the correct proportions accord
ing to the dosing chart, add cold water, and prepare the meat. Below, we’ll explain in detail how to marinate chicken fillets step by step.
Dosing Chart for Boneless Chicken Pieces
YOU WILL NEED:
- Chicken breasts
- Cold water and ice (50% water, 50% crushed ice)
- Ready-made chicken marinade – mild or spicy
MARINATING CHICKEN FILLETS:
- Wash the fillet under cold running water and let it drain.
- Before cutting, check for any bones or cartilage. Remove any membranes or defects.
- First, remove the tenderloin. Start cutting the fillet where the tenderloin was attached. Depending on the size of the breast, you should be able to cut one or two strips from this section. Turn the fillet smooth side up and cut at an angle. The thicker the piece, the smaller the cutting angle. Do not slice the breast all the way through! The last two or three strips should be cut crosswise.
- Prepare a bowl, a whisk, cold water, chicken marinade, and ice for making the marinade.
- Use the dosing chart from the Holly Powder instructions to determine the right amounts of marinade, water, and ice. Mix everything thoroughly.
- Pour the prepared marinade over the sliced chicken. (It may seem like a lot of marinade, but that’s a good thing! This ensures the chicken remains extremely juicy after marination.)
- Now for the most important step: manual massaging of the meat. This process should take about 5 minutes. There are two techniques for massaging:
- First method: Gather the meat towards yourself while slightly lifting it.
- Second method: Use your thumbs to work the marinade into the meat.
IMPORTANT! During this manual process, the marinade fully penetrates the chicken, giving it its characteristic flavour, aroma, and juiciness. After resting in the fridge, the meat will also become extra tender.
- Place the marinated meat in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
A helpful instructional video demonstrating each step of this process is available on our website under the “Videos & Guides“ section.
IMPORTANT! The meat should be kept at a temperature below 4°C – this is crucial! The chicken must remain cold. Between different preparation steps, the meat should spend as little time as possible outside the fridge. Pay attention to how you cut the fillet. Chicken sliced according to the instructions absorbs marinade more effectively.
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU MARINATE CHICKEN?
Wondering how long you need to wait for the meat to marinate? For optimal flavour, a minimum of 4 hours is recommended. However, you can also prepare chicken fillets with Holly Powder marinade the day before and leave them in the fridge overnight!
This makes kitchen organisation in restaurants much easier and allows for quick meal preparation at home. With pre-marinated meat, you can effortlessly whip up a delicious meal or snack whenever you need it.
By using a ready-made chicken marinade, you no longer have to worry about how to season your chicken! This one easy-to-use, versatile product ensures consistent and delicious results every time. Marinated chicken is perfect coated in crispy breading, grilled, skewered, in salads, or as a base for many other dishes.
Don’t eat meat or serve fish in your restaurant? Holly Powder also offers a fish marinade, designed to enhance freshness, purify the flavour, and remove any unpleasant aftertaste that can sometimes be present in farmed fish. Thanks to this marinade, fish remains juicy for longer and has a clean, delicate taste.
HOW TO MAKE CRISPY CHICKEN IN A BREADING MIX
Loved our idea for aromatic, juicy chicken pieces? Be sure to check out how to make crispy chicken in a breading mix!
