Authentic Argentinian Chimichurri Sauce

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I’m always looking for ways to elavate simple meals – to take a dish from fine to fine dining. I’ve found that adding a fancy-ish sauce is one of the surest (and easiest) ways to achieve this result. This authentic Argentinian chimichurri sauce is a classic example. If you are not familiar with chimichurri, it is a bright, herby, zesty, sauce that packs amazing flavor. It hails from Argentina where it is most commonly served with grilled meats. We love it on grilled marinated steak (and potatoes) but you can also pair it with chicken, fish, or veggies. It will add both flavor and color to your meal. Plus, it is a great way to use your garden herbs.

Looking for more simple summer entree ideas? Try my simple steamed clams in spicy chili butter or this pasta alla Trapanese.

Why You will Love this Authentic Argentinian Chimichurri Sauce

This is a great sauce for transforming an ordinary grilled meat dish into a gourmet meal. Here are some other reasons why you will love it:

Quick and Easy: This chimichurri sauce only uses a handful of ingredients and can be whipped up in 10 minutes. You start by boiling a little water and dissolving the salt to make a brine called a “salumera” in Argentininian cooking. Then you simply mince your herbs and garlic and stir it all together. I prefer to hand mincing the ingredients (I enjoy chopping). However, if you prefer, you can toss the herbs and garlic in your food processor and pulse them until finely chopped.

Great Way to use More Herbs and Garlic: I don’t know about you, but my garden is always overflowing with oregano and parsley. And the more I harvest, the quicker it seems to come back. If you want to get more use out of your herb garden – start making chimichurri sauce. Once you’ve mastered this basic version you can branch out and try other herbs – cilantro, rosemary, chives, etc.. But why should you use more herbs? There are many folks talking about the health benefits of using herbs and garlic in your cooking. See for instance this PubMed review of the health benefits of culinary herbs and spices. It claims evidence that herbs possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumorigenic, anticarcinogenic, and glucose- and cholesterol-lowering activities as well as properties that affect cognition and mood.

Awesome flavor: This authentic Argentinian chimichurri sauce packs a lot of flavor. Fresh and zesty herbs, brightness from the vinegar, and a bit of spice from the garlic and chili flakes. It is sure to liven up any grilled meat entree.

Makes for a Beautiful Presentation: Finally, the bright green chimichurri sauce adds color to you meal and looks lovely drizzled over grilled meats and potatoes (or whatever you like).

Pairings for Chimichurri Sauce:

We love chimichurri on steak. That’s a pairing that is hard to beat. A marinated flank steak, skirt steak, or hanger steak all work really well with this chimichurri. You can keep the marinade super simple – a little soy sauce, red wine vinegar, honey, olive oil and garlic will do the trick – here is a basic recipe I like. I also like to boil baby potatoes to pair with our steak. You can drizzle them with chimichurri and olive oil. Be sure to pair your dinner with a South American wine – try a Argentinian Malbac or a Carmenère from Chile.

Not into steak? This chimichurri also goes well on grilled chicken and fish. We tried it with salmon last month and thought it was great. It’s great on boiled or roasted potatoes and other grilled veggies too. If you have leftovers, you can put it on eggs in the morning. You can also use it as a dipping sauce for bread. The possibilities are endless! What is your favorite way to enjoy chimichurri sauce?

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