Thai Pesto Marinade for Grilling

Transform your grilling game with this vibrant and zesty Thai Pesto Marinade! A fragrant blend of fresh cilantro, Thai basil, mint, and garlic gets a bold kick from bird’s eye chili, while lime juice, fish sauce, and toasted sesame oil add layers of tangy, salty, and nutty flavors. Finished with creamy coconut milk and the crunch of peanuts (optional), this marinade strikes the perfect balance between sweet, spicy, and savory. Perfect for chicken, shrimp, tofu, or grilled vegetables, it ensures every bite is infused with Thai-inspired flair. Ready in just 10 minutes, this marinade is your new go-to for quick, flavorful grilling. Make your barbecue unforgettable with this Thai Pesto recipe!

Nutriscore Rating: 79/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:10 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup, packed Fresh cilantro
• 1 cup, packed Fresh Thai basil
• 0.5 cup, packed Fresh mint leaves
• 4 cloves Garlic
• 1 medium Thai bird's eye chili (or red chili)
• 3 tablespoons Lime juice
• 1 tablespoon Fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Toasted sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons Coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons Peanuts (optional)
• 0.25 cup Neutral oil (e.g., vegetable or avocado oil)

Directions

Step 1

Rinse and roughly chop the fresh cilantro, Thai basil, and mint leaves. Set them aside.

Step 2

Peel the garlic and slice the Thai bird's eye chili (remove the seeds for a milder spice level).

Step 3

In a food processor or blender, combine the cilantro, Thai basil, mint, garlic, chili, and peanuts (if using). Pulse several times until the ingredients are coarsely chopped.

Step 4

Add the lime juice, fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, toasted sesame oil, and coconut milk to the food processor. Blend again until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed.

Step 5

With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the neutral oil until the mixture becomes a smooth pesto-like paste.

Step 6

Taste the marinade and adjust seasoning, if necessary, by adding more lime juice, sugar, or chili to your preference.

Step 7

Use immediately to marinate your choice of protein (chicken, shrimp, or tofu) or vegetables. For best results, marinate in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours before grilling.

Step 8

Store any leftover marinade in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	648.2 grams (648.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	995

Total Fat 82.70g	106%
Saturated Fat 11.70g	59%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.10g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1877mg	82%
Total Carbohydrate 64.00g	23%
Dietary Fiber 22.20g	79%
Total Sugars 20.30g
Protein 23.90g	48%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 933mg	72%
Iron 32mg	178%
Potassium 2248mg	48%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 67.9%

Protein: 8.7%

Carbs: 23.4%