Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (2024)

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Author:

Isabel

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This Chimichurri Sauce is made with fresh and simple ingredients like parsley, cilantro, garlic, red onions and lemon juice. It’s perfect served as a sauce for steak, chicken, and seafood, as a salad dressing and even as a marinade! (gluten free, low carb, paleo, vegetarian, vegan)

Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (1)

Get ready because chimichurri sauce is the answer to all your food prayers!

Chimichurri is magical. It’s extremely versatile and can be used as a sauce to serve with grilled meats, as a condiment on burgers and sandwiches and even as a salad dressing. The possibilities are seriously endless.

If you’ve never had chimichurri before, you may be wondering…

What is chimichurri?

Chimchurri is an oil-based condiment made with fresh herbs, spices and a hint of acid from lemon juice and red wine vinegar. It’s typically served with steak but is also great with chicken, pork and seafood.

Traditionally, the only fresh herb and acidic component used in chimichurri is parsley and red wine vinegar.

But as you know, I’m a huge lover of cilantro and fresh citrus so I’ve added some fresh lemon juice and cilantro to this recipe.

How to make chimichurri sauce

  1. Add cilantro, parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, red onions, garlic, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and black pepper to a food processor or blender.
  2. Pulse in short 1-second increments about 3-5 times.
Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (2)

The consistency of the sauce should be choppy with chunks of fresh herbs throughout.

And that’s it! It’s so easy to make and can be enjoyed right away.

To store, transfer the sauce to an air-tight container, close the lid and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (3)

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Ways to use chimichurri sauce

This brightsauce is extremely flavorful and adds a hugepunch to anything you pair it with. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it.

  • as a condiment for grilled steak like this carne asada or pork, chicken and seafood
  • tossed with grilled veggies
  • as a marinade for chicken and beef
  • as a dressing on a salad
Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (4)

Can you freeze chimichurri?

Yes. To freeze, pour the sauce into ice cube trays and freeze. When frozen, transfer chimichurri cubes into a large freezer safe zip top bag.

When ready to use, simply remove as many chimichurri cubes as you need and thaw in a bowl on the counter.

Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (5)

4.50 from 75 votes

Chimichurri Sauce

servings: 12 servings (2 tablespoons per serving)

Print Pin Review Save

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Total: 5 minutes minutes

This Chimichurri Sauce is made with simple ingredients like fresh herbs, olive oil and red wine vinegar. It's perfect with grilled meats and as a marinade!

Video

Ingredients

  • 1 cup fresh cilantro (stems and leaves)
  • 1 cup fresh parsley (stems and leaves)
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice (about 1 1/2 lemon)
  • 3 tablespoons chopped red onions
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Add cilantro, parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, red onions, garlic, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and black pepper to a food processor or blender.

  • Pulse in short 1-second increments about 3-5 times. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Equipment

  • Food Processor or Blender

Notes

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

This recipe will keep fresh in an airtight glass container in the fridge for about 1 week.

Olive oil solidifies when cold so make sure to take the chimichurri out of the fridge beforehand and let it sit on the counter until it reaches room temperature. You can also run the container under warm water until the olive oil “melts” and becomes liquid again.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 186kcal (9%), Carbohydrates: 3g (1%), Protein: 2g (4%), Fat: 19g (29%), Potassium: 96mg (3%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Vitamin C: 3.3mg (4%), Calcium: 10mg (1%), Iron: 0.2mg (1%)

Author: Isabel Orozco-Moore

Category: Mexican

This post was originally published in August 2016. It was republished with brand new photos and content in June 2019.

Leave a Reply

  1. Valerie

    Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (6)
    Made the beef fajitas. They were excellent!

    Reply

  2. Breanne

    Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (7)
    This is so salty! I’m so sad. I’ve added another entire bunch of cilantro that I had on hand, more olive oil, and more lemon juice. It’s still too salty. I’ll have to use it in small amounts with other dressing with no salt. Please update the recipe so people who haven’t read the comments don’t ruin so many expensive ingredients and time.

    Reply

    1. Ana @ Isabel Eats

      Hi Breanne. Thank you for the feedback. We will consider this when moving forward.

      Reply

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Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (8)

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Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is chimichurri sauce made of? ›

Chimichurri sauce hails from Uruguay and Argentina. It's commonly made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes, finely chopped parsley, and dried or fresh oregano.

Why is my chimichurri sauce bitter? ›

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 long will 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.

Is chimichurri supposed to taste like vinegar? ›

If you've never had this sauce before, you're about to be wowed. It's similar to pesto, but without any cheese or nuts and with a heavier emphasis on acidic vinegar.

What is chimichurri good with? ›

You'll often see chimichurri sauce served with steak, but why stop there? It's also great on grilled chicken, fish, and a whole host of vegetarian foods. One of my favorites ways to eat chimichurri is to use it as a dip for toasted crusty bread.

What is chimichurri in English? ›

Meaning of chimichurri in English

a sauce from Argentina usually made from the herbs parsley and oregano, garlic, oil, vinegar, and chili, often eaten with meat: I had beef tenderloin with chimichurri.

Can chimichurri sauce go bad? ›

Because it is made with fresh herbs, chimichurri sauce should be refrigerated. How long does chimichurri keep in the fridge? Chimichurri can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.

Why is my chimichurri brown? ›

Recipe Tips

Use the sharpest knife in your kitchen when making this recipe. A dull knife can pulverize the herbs making the chimichurri look kind of brown.

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.

What if my chimichurri is too vinegary? ›

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.

Is chimichurri bad for cholesterol? ›

And from a health standpoint, chimichurri is loaded with good-for-you benefits, including calcium, carotenes, iron, and vitamins A and C (from the parsley) and calcium, fiber, iron, and vitamins E and K (from the oregano), as well as heart-healthy garlic and the monounsaturated fat found in olive oil, which may help to ...

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.

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.

Why is my chimichurri cloudy? ›

Don't over-chop when adding the oil, as it may start to emulsify and make the final sauce cloudy. Scoop into a bowl and serve. Can be made several hours in advance and kept in fridge.

Can I freeze chimichurri? ›

Chimichurri can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to five days. Let it come to room temperature before using. You can also freeze chimichurri up to three months; thaw it in the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature before using.

What does chimichurri taste like? ›

This sauce includes fresh parsley, shallot, garlic, oregano, red wine vinegar, olive oil and red pepper flakes for a kick of heat. What does chimichurri sauce taste like? Chimichurri is packed with bright, herbaceous flavor with a bit of spicy flavor for the ultimate sauce, condiment or marinade.

Why do they call it chimichurri? ›

The origin of its name is uncertain, though it is probably derived from the Basque tximitxurri, which means something like “a hodgepodge.” It has long since been internationalized, however, with a taste that reflects the manifold flavours brought by immigrants from different European countries.

How is chimichurri different from pesto? ›

Pesto is an Italian sauce made with basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil. Chimichurri is an Argentine sauce made with parsley, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and red chili peppers or flakes. Chimichurri doesn't contain nuts or cheese. Basil pesto is smooth, salty, and slightly nutty.

Why is chimichurri so popular in Argentina? ›

Others believe that this sauce has its origins in Basque immigration, and from that diaspora came the tximitxurri, a Basque-style herb sauce…. Whether of Irish, English, Basque or Quechua origin, chimichurri belongs truly to the Argentines, as a synonym of friendship, family and -of course- a matter of national pride.

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