Chimichurri Sauce: Argentinian-Style Fresh Herb Salsa and Marinade

By Marian Blazes

Updated 04/02/18

Chimichurri
Stone-soup/Flickr
Ratings (43)
  • Total: 10 mins
  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 0 mins
  • Yield: 1 cup (serves 10 - 12)
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
117 Calories
12g Fat
4g Carbs
1g Protein
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Chimichurri is one of the most delicious and versatile sauces around. It's traditionally served with grilled steak and is an essential part of an Argentinian parrillada or barbecued mixed grill, but it goes great with chicken and fish, too. It's a must with grilled chorizo sausages. Chimichurri works well as a marinade and also gives a spark of flavor to vegetables. 

Some people prefer more garlic, some prefer only parsley, and others even add fresh tomatoes -- experiment to come up with your own signature chimichurri and change the proportions to suit your taste.

Ingredients

  • 3 to 6 cloves garlic to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped red onion
  • 2 cups fresh flat-leaf parsley, firmly packed
  • 1/4 cup fresh oregano leaves (optional) or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro (optional)
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice or to taste
  • Kosher salt and red pepper flakes to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Pulse the garlic and chopped red onion in a food processor just until they are finely chopped.

  2. Add the parsley, oregano, and cilantro, as desired, and pulse briefly, just until the herbs are finely chopped.

  3. Transfer the mixture to a separate bowl.

  4. Add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, and lime juice and stir. (Adding the liquids outside of the blender gives the chimichurri the correct texture. You don't want the herbs to be completely pureed, just finely chopped).

  5. Season with salt and red pepper flakes to taste.

  6. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Barbecues, Steaks, and Argentina

A parradilla in Argentina is a simple iron grill, and they are ubiquitous in this meat-loving country. The word has also come to mean steakhouses in Argentina, which are also universal.

Asado generally means barbecue, as in backyard barbecue, but it often implies a much grander occasion that goes on until the wee hours of the morning.