Chimichurri Sauce (No Cilantro) | Carolyn's Cooking (2024)

FAQs

Does chimichurri contain cilantro? ›

Traditional authentic chimichurri does not contain cilantro, it's mostly made up of parsley. However, we love cilantro and this recipe uses cilantro rather than what is traditional.

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.

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”.

Traditionalists might say it's reserved for churrasco, or grilled meat, but we say chimichurri tastes amazing on fish, pasta salads, eggs, potatoes—practically anything!

Parsley. Parsley is often confused with cilantro because they look so similar. And thankfully, it does make an excellent substitute as a garnish. It will provide a similar freshness when sprinkled on top of a finished dish, especially something with slowly cooked and developed flavors like stew recipes.

Luckily, there are many substitutes for cilantro that are easily added to any recipe. Substitute cilantro with other herbs such as parsley, Thai basil, or dill. Lemon and lime are also good substitutes in a pinch as they mimic the bright flavor of cilantro.

Ways to Make Chimichurri

Either way works! Hand chopped chimichurri looks a bit more rustic, while blended chimichurri looks more pulpy and fine. If you aren't going to use a food processor, make sure that you chop your garlic and herbs as finely and as uniform as possible.

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

Chimichurri sauce is usually served aged. The ingredients cause a natural pickling process. We recommend that it is consumed within 6 months and be kept in cool dry place.

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.

How to make chimichurri sauce Bobby Flay? ›

He starts by adding flat-leaf parsley to the processor and tops it with a bit of fresh oregano. He then adds fresh cilantro, red wine vinegar, lots of black pepper, fresh garlic and smoked paprika to the processor. He tops it off with salt and a healthy amount of olive oil and purees it.

Basil pesto is smooth, salty, and slightly nutty. Chimichurri has a chunky texture and is tangy and usually a little spicy. Both are delicious, just different.

We especially like it with grilled shrimp on crispy crostini, al pastor tacos with charred pineapple, roasted sweet potatoes with crumbled cotija, or, of course, a freshly seared steak.

You don't want the herbs to be completely pureed, just finely chopped. While some thin, tender parsley stems are okay, avoid adding thicker stems, because they can make the chimichurri quite bitter. If your chimichurri is bitter, you can add more lemon juice or vinegar to help counteract it.

While Chimichurri Sauce is especially great paired with the strong beefy flavours of steak, it's also terrific with other proteins – chicken, turkey, fish, prawns/shrimp – as well as vegetables.

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 to make chimichurri sauce. 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.

Made with fresh cilantro, tangy vinegar, aromatics and a touch of spice, this cilantro chimichurri (or Mexican chimichurri) is so flavor packed and can be used in so many different ways.