Lemon Marinade

Step 1

Crush and peel the garlic. Wash and dry the herbs. Remove any tough stems and chop the leaves. Wash the lemon thoroughly with a brush, scald it with boiling water, and wipe it dry. Finely grate the zest and squeeze out the juice.

Step 2

Place the chopped herbs, garlic, and zest in a blender. Add the olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt, black pepper, and chili powder. Blend until smooth. Your lemon basil marinade is ready!

Basil is an herb with a strong, spicy aroma and a slightly astringent, bitter taste. Green basil is popular in Europe, widely grown in France, Italy, Morocco, and Egypt. In Russia, both green and purple basil (reagan, reyhan) are used. The latter has a slightly coarser and more intense flavor than its Mediterranean cousin.

Chicken shashlik is truly a national dish. No trip to the countryside or summer get-together is complete without this delicious treat. There are countless chicken shashlik recipes, and this meat pairs well with most spices and marinades. You can choose any part of the bird for shashlik: some prefer lean breast meat, others prefer meaty legs and thighs, and still others are crazy about wings.

Grilled vegetables are not only a great appetizer on their own, but also the perfect side dish for shashlik, steak, or ribs. They're also low-calorie, quick to prepare, and require no complicated prep. And to make them even more delicious, juicy, and flavorful, try these tried-and-true marinade recipes.