Easy Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (Fresh and Zing Flavor)

• Recipe: Chimichurri Sauce
• Writer: Nicolas Wilson
• Content-Type: Food Blog

This chimichurri sauce has a fresh and zingy flavor thanks to parsley, oregano, and white wine vinegar. Drizzle it on grilled vegetables, salads, and other dishes.

You need this chimichurri recipe in your life if you can’t seem to finish a full bunch of parsley.

After you try this chimichurri recipe, you’ll want to buy parsley simply to make it again! It’s the kind of sauce you can make in minutes and drizzle over anything since it’s bright, zingy, and oh-so-easy.

I assure you you’ll be hooked after trying it on a salad, roasted vegetables, or polenta.

What is the meaning of Chimichurri?

Argentina is home to Chimichurri sauce. Olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes, finely chopped parsley, and dried or fresh oregano are popular ingredients.

It’s used as a marinade or dipping sauce for grilled meats like chicken, steak, lamb, and fish all over Argentina and South America.

On our vacation in Argentina, I first encountered chimichurri and fell in love with its tangy, herby flavor. I set out to make my version as soon as we landed.

To my astonishment, I was able to come up with a simple chimichurri recipe that only required 8 basic components!

Ingredients for Chimichurri

To prepare this chimichurri, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Instead of using a food processor, I finely chop fresh parsley by hand. So simple!
• Dried oregano — Along with the parsley, it adds a fresh, herbal flavor to the sauce.
• Garlic — For a pungent, flavorful depth.
• Red pepper flakes – for added spiciness.
• Smoked paprika — This unusual chimichurri spice lends a slightly smokey taste to the sauce.
• I substitute white wine vinegar for the more customary red wine vinegar. It adds a lovely tanginess to the sauce.
• Extra-virgin olive oil — It adds richness to the sauce and helps it to come together.
• And a little salt to bring out the flavors!

Serving Suggestions for Chimichurri Sauce

This chimichurri sauce can also be used as a marinade or dipping sauce for grilled steak or other meat. But, being a vegetarian, I can tell you that the possibilities are endless! Here are some additional suggestions to help you get started:

• Toss it with roasted broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, or sweet potatoes.
• Drizzle it over cooked zucchini or veggie skewers.
• Fill a puffy baked potato or baked sweet potato with it.
• It can be used as a salad dressing.
• For a flash of vibrant flavor, swirl it into creamy polenta.
• To make a simple side dish, drizzle it over a grain bowl or toss it with cooked quinoa, farro, or brown rice.

Chimichurri Sauce

This simple recipe is my take on the traditional Argentinian chimichurri sauce. For a lively pop of flavor, drizzle this delectable condiment over roasted vegetables, use it as a salad dressing, or combine it with any cooked grain.

Instructions

1. Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, oregano, red chili flakes, and smoked paprika in a small mixing bowl. Add the parsley and mix well. Alternatively, you may use a mortar and pestle or a few pulses in a food processor to blend the ingredients.
2. Season to taste and pour over roasted or grilled veggies as a sauce.

Notes

• Chimichurri can be frozen in ice cube trays in the same way as pesto can. Allow it to thaw at room temperature when ready to use.