As you are considering a lime marinade, you should think about the overall flavor of the dish you are making and the food you are going to be marinating. If you are creating a dish with Mexican flavors, for example, then you should typically look for a marinade that includes other flavors that work well for this type of dish. On the other hand, a lime marinade for a dish with Asian flavors would utilize other ingredients that serve the overall feel of the dish. You should also make sure that a lime marinade is appropriate for the type of food you are marinating, and marinate meat for a proper amount of time.
One of the first things you should consider when choosing the best lime marinade for your needs is the type of overall dish you are creating. Different dishes are usually based on different types of foods, often originating from different regions or ethnicities. You should typically choose a marinade that serves the overall purpose of the dish you are creating, and choose flavors within the marinade that work well together.
If you are creating a Mexican dish, or a dish inspired and influenced by Mexican flavors, then you should choose a lime marinade that reinforces these flavors. This means you should consider a marinade with ingredients such as cilantro, sweet basil, cumin, jalapeno, and red onions. The meat or other food you are marinating is going to absorb some of these flavors, so you should choose appropriate ingredients.
On the other hand, if you are creating a dish with Asian influences, then you want to choose a lime marinade with appropriate Asian flavors. These can vary quite a bit, depending on the particular type of Asian cooking you are trying to create. In general, however, ingredients such as ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and peanut oil can all contribute to an appropriately Asian flavor. If you are looking to create a specific style of cooking, such as Szechuan, then you should look for a marinade that specifically works for that style.
As you consider the best lime marinade for your dish, you should also make sure you think about the meat you plan on marinating. Lime juice, like other citrus juices, is highly acidic and can begin to break down and tenderize meats. Using a lime marinade for a tough piece of meat, such as a flank steak, can help tenderize it, especially if you marinate it overnight or for 24 hours. Tender meat, however, should not be marinated as long, especially if you are using lime juice or another citrus. There are even some meats, such as shrimp and fish, which can be cooked by marinating them for several days in highly acidic citrus marinades.
