Chimichurri Sauce Recipe {Most Flavorful!} - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published June 11, 2019. Updated November 7, 2021

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The only Chimichurrirecipe you’ll ever need! It’s incredibly vibrant and jam packed with fresh flavor. It’s easy to make and it’s the best upgrade to meat and poultry. One of my go-to recipes and for good reason, it will always leave you craving more!

Chimichurri Sauce Recipe {Most Flavorful!} - Cooking Classy (1)

What is Chimichurri Sauce?

Chimichurri is a condiment or marinade similar to pesto but rather it’s parsley and vinegar based. It’s a common dish that you’ll find in South American and Central American countries such as Argentina and Mexico.

My husband lived in Argentina for two years before we were married so he introduced me to a few of the classics that I instantly fell in love with. Among there were breaded Milanesa, flakey beef and olive filled Empanadas, Alfajores cookies layered with sweet dulce de leche, and lively homemade Chimichurri sauce (which he loves on Choripan).

Of course I was smitten after once taste of that refreshing sauce and I’ve been making it regularly ever since. My family loves it and it’s a simple way to upgrade an otherwise insipid chicken or steak dinner.

Plus it’s a healthy recipe jam packed with fresh herbs and it has no added added sugars (unlike bbq sauces and others).

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Is This Recipe Authentic?

Authentic Argentine Chimichurri is made with parsley and oregano, but no cilantro. I prefer the flavor of the added cilantro but to make it authentic you can omit the cilantro and replace with more parsley. The region my husband lived in also never served spicy food (even black pepper) so depending on the area red pepper flakes may not be authentic.

Other additions I added for more flavor were some red onion and a bit of lemon in place of some of the red wine vinegar. They’re the perfect finishing touches!

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What Ingredients go into Chimichurri?

  • Fresh parsley, cilantro and oregano – this trio of herbs makes this incredibly flavorful!
  • Red onion – mince these up itty bitty if going the method by hand.
  • Garlic – use fresh garlic for the most flavor.
  • Red wine vinegar – if you don’t have red wine vinegar on hand white wine vinegar could be substituted.
  • Lemon juice – use fresh lemon juice for best flavor.
  • Salt – kosher salt, table salt or sea salt works great.
  • Red pepper flakes – if you don’t like spicy food just omit this, if you love spicy food add more to taste.
  • Olive oil – I like to use a blend of half extra virgin olive oil and half regular olive oil for a more mild oil flavor but feel free to use either or.

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How do You Make Chimichurri?

Mix and Chop by Hand Method:

  • Finely chop parsley, cilantro, oregano. Add to a mixing bowl along with all remaining ingredients. Stir well to blend.

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Food Processor Method:

  • If using a food processor no need to pre-chop herbs and you’ll only need to roughly chop onion and garlic.
  • Add red onion, garlic, red wine vinegar, lemon juice and salt to a food processor.
  • Pulse, stopping and scraping down sides occasionally until finely minced.
  • Add in parsley, cilantro, oregano and red pepper flakes then pour in olive oil while pulsing several times until herb leaves are finely minced (they should have some body and texture).

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Can I Use Dried Oregano?

Fresh oregano does give the best flavor but I don’t always have it on hand so once it a while I’ll use dried oregano and it will work fine. Use 1 tsp dried in place of fresh.

How to Store it and How Long Does it Keep?

Store chimichurri in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should keep well for about 5 days refrigerated.

Can I Freeze It?

Yes for longer shelf life freeze it for up to 1 month. You can freeze in an ice cube tray for smaller servings if desired (transfer to an airtight container after frozen through. Thaw in refrigerator.

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Tips for the Best Chimichurri:

  • Use freshest ingredients. Don’t use limp wilting fresh herbs and skip bottled garlic or dried onion.
  • If chopping by hand finely chop the herbs so it’s not overly chunky.
  • If using a food processor don’t over-process it. It should have some body and texture it shouldn’t be pureed.
  • Use good quality olive oil for best flavor.

What Should I Serve it On?

I love chimichurri served over:

  • Steak
  • Chicken
  • Salmon
  • Shrimp
  • Veggies (potatoes and corn)
  • Or try it as a marinade.

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Chimichurri Sauce

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The only Chimichurrirecipe you'll ever need! It's incredibly vibrant and jam packed with fresh flavor. It's easy to make and it's the best upgrade to meat and poultry. One of my go-to recipes and for good reason, it will always leave you craving more! Makes about 1 1/3 cups.

Servings: 8

Prep15 minutes minutes

Ready in: 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

By Hand Method

  • Finely chop parsley, cilantro, oregano, onion (should have 1/4 cup minced red onion) and garlic (1 Tbsp). Add to a mixing bowl along with all remaining ingredients. Stir to blend.

Food Processor Method

  • If using a food processor no need to pre-chop herbs and you'll only need to roughly chop onion and garlic. Add red onion, garlic, red wine vinegar, lemon juice and salt to a food processor. Pulse, stopping and scraping down sides occasionally until finely minced.

  • Add in parsley, cilantro, oregano and red pepper flakes then pour in olive oil while pulsing several times until herb leaves are finely minced (they should have some body and texture).

  • Spread over meat, poultry, seafood or vegetables or use as a marinade.

Notes

  • *To make a more authentic Argentinian Chimichurri omit the cilantro and increase parsley by an extra 1/2 cup.
  • *With all fresh herbs use mostly leaves and some tender stem.
  • **I like to use a blend half extra virgin and half regular olive oil. Either or a blend will work great.
  • ***Just use about 1/4 of a small red onion.
  • Store in refrigerator about 5 days or freeze for one month.

Nutrition Facts

Chimichurri Sauce

Amount Per Serving

Calories 187Calories from Fat 180

% Daily Value*

Fat 20g31%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Sodium 152mg7%

Potassium 65mg2%

Carbohydrates 2g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 689IU14%

Vitamin C 10mg12%

Calcium 15mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Argentine

Keyword: Chimichurri

Author: Jaclyn

Chimichurri Sauce Recipe {Most Flavorful!} - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

Chimichurri Sauce Recipe {Most Flavorful!} - Cooking Classy? ›

Chimichurri can become bitter if the ingredients aren't balanced properly. Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to fix bitter-tasting chimichurri. Adding more acidity, like citrus or vinegar, can counteract bitter flavors. You can also add a touch of sweetness in the form of honey or sugar.

How do you get the bitterness out of chimichurri? ›

Chimichurri can become bitter if the ingredients aren't balanced properly. Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to fix bitter-tasting chimichurri. Adding more acidity, like citrus or vinegar, can counteract bitter flavors. You can also add a touch of sweetness in the form of honey or sugar.

What is the difference between Mexican chimichurri and Argentinian chimichurri? ›

The Argentinian chimichurri uses parsley and cilantro. It has a slight tinge of spice, but nothing like the extremely spicy Mexican chimichurri. The Argentinian version also uses vinegar and is more like an infused oil than a “sauce”.

What can I use instead of red wine vinegar in chimichurri? ›

White wine vinegar – Most authentic chimichurri sauce recipes call for red wine vinegar, but I like to use white wine vinegar here instead. I love its brighter flavor in the sauce. Extra-virgin olive oil – It adds richness and brings the sauce together.

What is traditional chimichurri made of? ›

This simple but flavorful bright green sauce from Argentina is made from a handful of pantry ingredients such as red wine vinegar, garlic, and crushed red pepper, plus fresh herbs like parsley and oregano.

Why is my chimichurri brown? ›

The vinegar browns the herbs over time making the appearance of the chimichurri dull.

What spice takes away bitterness? ›

Spices mask bitter flavors, so don't be shy. Add some spicy peppers or powders to your cooking, or sprinkle some onto your dishes for a little bit of extra heat. Black pepper in particular has compounds that counteract bitterness. Some other great spices include cayenne, red pepper, paprika, and chili powder.

Does chimichurri taste better the next day? ›

But for an even better chimichurri, let it sit at room temperature for a few hours (or overnight). This will give it some time to let the flavors meld together!

How do you fix too much vinegar in chimichurri? ›

If you find the chimichurri sauce too tangy, you can reduce the amount of vinegar used or add a pinch of sugar to balance the flavour. As the sauce is very versatile, feel free to experiment with different herbs, vinegar, and oils or even add a touch of freshly squeezed lemon juice for extra tanginess.

Does chimichurri have onion in it? ›

What is chimichurri made of? The ingredients for chimichurri sauce may typically include chopped parsley and/or coriander, garlic, onion, olive oil, red or white wine vinegar and chilli.

Is chimichurri inflammatory? ›

Health benefits: Chimichurri seasoning is made with fresh herbs, such as parsley and oregano, which are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, the garlic in chimichurri is known to have immune-boosting properties.

Why does my chimichurri taste bitter? ›

Chimichurri sauce can taste bitter if you started with bitter parsley. Make sure you use fresh Italian parsley, not curly parsley. I recommend tasting the parsley before you start to make sure it doesn't have a bitter flavor. Also, make sure you don't over mix the chimichurri sauce.

What do you eat chimichurri with? ›

Chimichurri complements any number of meats and vegetables. Here are some of our favorite ways to use chimichurri sauce: Serve it alongside grilled steak or pork chops, roasted chicken, poached salmon or sauteed shrimp. Drizzle it over grilled vegetable kebabs or oven-roasted vegetables.

Can you use parsley stems in chimichurri? ›

When you're cutting your herbs up, remember you can cut the parsley and cilantro stems and all- just give them a rough chop to measure, but for the oregano, you'll want to pull those little stems off the woody stem. It all goes in a food processor and gets chopped up more.

What is Bobby Flay's Bobby's sauce? ›

His fry sauce in particular has become a staple of Flay's, reflecting his signature style with a spicy twist. The best part about the recipe for Bobby Flay's fry sauce? It requires just three ingredients: mayonnaise, roasted red pepper puree, and adobo sauce.

How long does homemade chimichurri last? ›

Dried-herb chimichurri can last up to a week unrefrigerated and 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator. For a shortcut, consider our dried Chimichurri Spice Blend, which needs just olive oil, salt and vinegar to make a long-lasting sauce.

What is chimichurri seasoning made of? ›

You need dried parsley, dried lemon zest, black pepper, salt, dried oregano, garlic powder and crushed red pepper flakes to make the spice rub.

How do you make Bobby Flay fry sauce? ›

For the fry sauce: Combine the mayonnaise, roasted red pepper puree and adobo sauce in a small bowl and stir together until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Use right away or cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld.

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