What Is Chimichurri Sauce?
Chimichurri sauce is an uncooked sauce made by mixing up different herbs and other ingredients. The herbs commonly used are cilantro, parsley, oregano, basil and oil, vinegar, and chopped garlic. In addition, salt, pepper, and chili can be added for more flavor.
All of this gives the easy chimichurri sauce a herbaceous flavor with a hint of spice that is a bit on the tangy side. The best thing about chimichurri sauce is that the vinegar preserves the herbs, so the sauce can be stored for weeks in a fridge. But make sure to take it out some time before use, as the oil may solidify.
As for the sauce's origin, it originated from Argentina and Uruguay, where it was specifically used as a dressing for grilled meat. And while commonly made with only green ingredients, there are variations of this chimichurri recipe available made with red ingredients like a tomato.
Another variation you can try is making a chimichurri recipe with lemon instead of vinegar.
How to Make the Best Chimichurri Sauce?
There are two main methods to make the chimichurri sauce. They are described in detail below.
- Hand Method: To make the chimichurri sauce by hand, cut the herbs, garlic, and chili with a sharp knife. Next, mix the chopped ingredients in a bowl with a spoon. Add oil, vinegar, lemon, salt, and pepper to the chopped ingredients, then stir them well with a wooden spoon.
- Food Processor Method: If you want to make the chimichurri recipe using a food processor, chop only the garlic and onion beforehand. You won't need to pre-chop the herbs for this method. Put onion, garlic, oil, vinegar, lemon, salt, pepper, cumin, and coriander in a food processor and blend. Stop to scrape down the sides and add in the whole herbs, blending until all the ingredients are finely minced and well combined.
What to Serve with Chimichurri Sauce?
While traditionally served with main dishes like grilled meat, you can serve this Argentinian chimichurri recipe with other less traditional dishes as well. Feel free to pair it with roasted chicken, shrimp, and pork chops or use the chimichurri sauce for fish. The sauce can also be enjoyed drizzled over grilled vegetables and kebabs, so don’t limit yourself to just meat. Mix your chimichurri with your salad or use it as a dressing for roasted potatoes (roasted potatoes with chimichurri make a great snack).
There are also many other ways to enjoy the flavors of chimichurri. You can also use it to marinate food like seafood and meat or mix it with Mayo to get a tasty, spicy spread. You can even use this sauce as a dip, either as it is or mixed with yogurt or cream to get a thicker and creamier result.
Here are some our delicious recipes that you can serve with Chimichurri Sauce:
