To marinade or not to marinade

In most cooking from around the world, meat is coated in a marinade and left overnight to allow the flavours to infuse. This process includes various ingredients and times.
Marinades have several functions besides just flavouring meat/chicken/fish/vegetables. These include :

1. Tenderising tougher cuts of meat.
2. Reducing cooking time.
3. The acid in the marinade slows down the growth of harmful bacteria.

4.This also allows the meat to be easily digested.

A combination of wet and dry ingredients can be used to create a marinade. By changing a few ingredients and spices any marinade can be changed to the type of cuisine like Soy Sauce to create Asian flavours.
Wet ingredients include :

1. Wine
2. lemon juice
3. Buttermilk
4. Yoghurt
5. Vinegar
6. Oil
7. Soy Sauce

Dry ingredients :

1. Dried herbs
2. Fresh herbs
3. Chilles
4. Spices
5. Ground Nuts
6. Sugar
7. Salt

The abovementioned are just some of the ingredients you can use to marinate your food to create flavoursome dishes. Marinated foods can be :

1. Braaied /BBQ
2. Roasted
3. Grilled
4. Pot roasted
5. Curried

A basic marinade includes oil, an acid and flavours. All these can be adjusted to your tastebuds and what you are trying to create. A secret ingredient used by many is the use of Ketchup yip it provides a sweet/tart flavour and adds colour.The sugar in the ketchup allows for the meat/fish/chicken to be browned on the outside.
A few Fridays ago I created this simple meal for my family using marinated Lamb Ribs. I have marinated the Ribs a few days earlier when we had done our monthly meat shop.
Lamb Rib Delight
1kg Lamb Ribs
1 teaspoon ginger and garlic mix
3  Tablespoons Kashmiri Chilli masala
2 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoon Tomato Sauce
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
Method

1. Wash Lamb Ribs and trim excess fat off then dry.
2. Add all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and add the Ribs.
3. Mix well until all the Ribs are coated in the mixture.
4. Cover and put into the fridge for atleast 2 hours before cooking.
5. Heat up a large nonstick pan add the Ribs and let them brown on either side before adding 125ml of hot water to allow the ribs to steam and then cook on a low heat for atleast 45min.
6. Keep turning the Ribs and add a little bit of water if the ribs are sticking to the pan.
7. The meat on the ribs should be well cooked and literally falling of the bone.

Serving suggestions

1. Mashed Potato
2. Raw Baked Bean salad
3. French fries
4. Roast Vegetables
5. Macaroni and cheese

My family love this dish and it is so easy to prepare. Do you prepare Ribs ? What kind of marinades do you use ?

Be Inspired !
Ciao