If you’re wondering what chimichurri tastes like, it’s known for its vibrant flavors with a strong herbaceous undertone gifted by the parsley. There’s a balance of freshness and acidity that pairs well with umami-rich grilled meats.
The top trick to making the tastiest chimichurri recipe is to strike the right balance between the flavor profiles. Chimichurri main ingredients usually include a mixture of fresh parsley, garlic, oregano, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and chili. Once you’ve mastered this base profile you can then experiment with tailoring the chimichurri to your palate.
For the parsley, as suggested in the recipe above, it’s better to chop by hand instead of using a blender. If you choose to blend the parsley you may find it’s undesirably mushy in the final sauce. Red wine vinegar is also a traditional element for the base of the sauce, but some chefs will swap this for white wine vinegar for a fresher flavor, or add a dash of lemon juice to brighten the notes.
Chimichurri is a classic sauce to add to your cooking repertoire and there’s a wide range of basic sauces to master in the kitchen in our guide to the top 12 sauces from across various cuisines.
How to Use Chimichurri for Meats and Vegetables
There are several ways to use chimichurri with meat and vegetables. One option is to use chimichurri as a marinade. This is a popular method to add flavor to steaks and grilled meats and can be added to the meat for 30 minutes to two hours before cooking to infuse its bright notes.
Or you can cook your meat and vegetables and drizzle the chimichurri over the top of the cooked ingredients before serving. This is an easy method to follow and adds an inviting, colorful element to the plate.
If you have any remaining steak, find more recipe inspiration in our round-up of the best leftover steak recipes, from steak salads to steak tacos.
Storage and Serving Suggestions
Chimichurri can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days. Alternatively, you can keep it in the freezer for up to three months. For convenience, you can freeze the sauce into ice cube trays for manageable portions to use as needed for specific recipes.
While steak and chimichurri is a classic flavor combination, there are plenty of ways to use this traditional Argentinian sauce. Toss it with vegetables, such as roasted broccoli, to bring a fresh, zesty taste to your usual side of greens. You could also spoon it over the top of a baked potato for a richer, more aromatic flavor. Or it can be easily mixed into a bowl of quinoa or brown rice to enhance a hearty side dish.
