By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 12, 2026
Serves 4
82 cal · 10 min
Coconut-Chilli Marinade
Recipe GLPRea3bd1462c02bc
A vibrant Southeast Asian-inspired marinade combining fresh ginger and chillies with aromatic sesame oil, fish sauce, and toasted desiccated coconut. This chunky paste works wonderfully for marinating fish, seafood, or vegetables before grilling or pan-frying. The balance of heat, umami, and rich coconut flavor creates depth in any dish.
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Ingredients
Fresh ginger, thumb-sized piece
2 Red or green chillies, roughly chopped
7 tbsp Sesame oil
2 tbsp Fish sauce
40 g Desiccated coconut
Directions
Grate the fresh ginger piece using a microplane or fine grater to release its aromatic oils.
Add the grated ginger, roughly chopped chillies, sesame oil, fish sauce, and desiccated coconut to a food processor.
Pulse the mixture until it reaches a chunky paste consistency, ensuring some texture remains rather than becoming completely smooth. The marinade should have visible flecks of ginger, chilli, and coconut.
Transfer the marinade to a bowl and use immediately to coat fish, seafood, or vegetables, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Comments
Fish sauce and desiccated coconut demand a second stop—neither Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Publix, nor Walmart carry them reliably in Charlotte, so plan for ALDI or an Asian market. The marinade itself costs under $8 total and works on shrimp or chicken, but ten minutes is the mixing time only; marinating itself takes 30 minutes minimum, often overnight. The real payoff is flavor and shelf life: it keeps five days refrigerated and reheats cleanly, making it a genuine weeknight asset if you buy ahead or marinate in the morning.
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