Chimichurri is perfect for marinating, dipping, and dressing pretty much everything! It’s easy to make and tastes amazing. You’ll wonder how you lived without it!
Chimichurri is easy to make and delicious. There’s a new Mexican restaurant near my house that I am slightly obsessed with – their chimichurri is my new favorite and I’m excited to say I nailed it! Use this recipe to make a chimichurri steak! (Here’s how to broil steak if you’re not able to grill). Or make some chimichurri fish tacos? I even like it on crispy chicken thighs!
Chimichurri
Chimichurri – Best EVER Recipe!
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Chimichurri Ingredients
- Cilantro leaves – I love cilantro and could eat it on nearly everything. This recipe makes beautiful music of cilantro. If you’re on team cilantro then you’ll definitely want to make this chimichurri sauce.
- Parsley leaves – The cilantro in this chimichurri recipe is tempered by parsley. I find that it stretches the flavor without making it overpowering.
- Salt – Salt is so key, it intensifies flavors and should not be skipped.
- Garlic – I like to use fresh garlic cloves, but if you’re in a pinch the stuff from the jar or squeeze bottle will work too.
- Olive oil – Try to choose a good quality olive oil as it will be the carrier for all this amazing chimichurri flavor.
- Lime juice – Again, fresh limes are always going to be best, but I have been known to use the stuff in the bottle shaped like a lime before. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than not having chimichurri!
- Capers – Not all chimichurri recipes use capers, but they’re one of my favorite parts of this recipe (sighhhhh, fine, skip them if you hate capers). They add a bright note on top of the sauce. Almost like a little caviar pop, since we leave them whole!
How do you make homemade chimichurri? (step-by-step)
⭐ First, add squeeze lime juice into blender or food processor.
⭐ Then, add remaining ingredients, except capers.
⭐ Next, blend until smooth (or to the consistency you like).
⭐ Finally, stir in capers.
Preparation
What is chimichurri sauce made of?
It is made primarily with cilantro, parsley, and lime juice so it is a bold bright citrusy flavor that is someone unique in its ability to go well with heavier gamey meats like steak and lamb, but also light dishes like fish and even salads.
What is chimichurri supposed to taste like?
Chimichurri is intensely bright and acidic from the lime juice, with heavy herb flavors from the cilantro and parsley, with a great undertone of garlic.
Leftovers and storage
Can you freeze chimichurri?
This sauce uses all fresh, bright and delicious ingredients, but can be frozen so you’ll have these amazing flavors on hand any time you want. If you don’t want to freeze, no worries, the oil and lime will keep it preserved in the fridge for several weeks if not longer.
How long does chimichurri last?
Chimichurri can last couple of weeks in the refrigerator, or in the freezer indefinitely.
Tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions
Is Chimichurri good for you?
Chimichurri is very good for you! It’s made with healthy oil (olive oil), greens that are packed with vitamins and nutrients (parsley and cilantro), as well as garlic which is touted as heart healthy and an antioxidant.
Sometimes I like to make it a double healthy whammy by serving a protein with chimichurri and pico de gallo or bruschetta topping. YUM!
What is chimichurri sauce like?
Chimichurri is an earthy, tangy, uncooked sauce used as a marinade, dressing or topping on meats, salads, sandwiches, and other foods. Some folks like it rough chopped with a lot of texture and others (like me!) prefer it blended smooth.
Is chimichurri spicy?
Our recipe for chimichurri is not spicy, but you can absolutely make it spicy by adding jalapeno or other peppers to the sauce. Either add it to the blender or finely dice it and stir in when you add the capers.
What do you put chimichurri sauce on? (serving suggestions)
We put chimichurri sauce on nearly every protein! I love a skirt steak chimichurri and roasted potatoes. Or try it on grilled flank steak. It’s also amazing on crispy chicken thighs, and fish tacos! I’ve even been known to put it over my steak salad on occasion. Mmmmm.
I’m pretty sure this sauce could make even the gloomiest days look bright. We may be getting into those dark winter evenings that come too early, but make a great steak with your cast iron and throw this over top to forget all your seasonal worries. And throw in a margarita while you’re at it.
Use your leftovers to make this roast beef sandwich with creamy chimichurri sauce.
More awesome sauce recipes
- Honey mustard recipe
- Chipotle mayo
- Citrus vinaigrette
- Homemade BBQ sauce
- See all our sauces and condiments
Try these recipes next!
Chimichurri making tools
- Santuko knife – My favorite knife for cutting vegetables! This knife is the perfect size and shape, handles great, and is super reasonably priced. Also, I just love that it’s fun and colorful!
- Stick blender – Possibly the most used gadget in my entire kitchen. The key to making a hand blender useful versus a giant pain in the butt is to rinse it immediately after using. That way you’re never trying to get crusty dried goop out from under the blades.
- End grain cutting board – This is my absolute favorite cutting board and the one that I get the most compliments on. And p.s. I have a lot of cutting boards. It really is absolutely stunning, and knows how to take a beating. We use it every single day!
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How to make Chimichurri
Chimichurri
Ingredients
- 2 cups cilantro leaves stems removed - approximately 1 bunch
- 2 cups parsley leaves stems removed - approximately 1 bunch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic peeled
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup fresh lime juice - approximately 3 limes
- 3 tablespoons capers
Instructions
- Add everything except capers to your blender (or you could use a stick blender), and pulse until smooth.
- Stir in capers (so they stay whole), and store in the refrigerator. This can be used right away but it best after 24 hours so the flavors can marry.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Love a good marinade? Try our flank steak marinade next!
Chimichurri – Best EVER Recipe!
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11.1.16, 4.30.18
Do you use flat leaf parsley or Italian parsley?
I use flat leaf, but Italian would work in a pinch 🙂
Flat-leaf parsley is Italian parsley.
hah, you are absolutely right. I meant to say I prefer flat leaf parsley (aka Italian parsley) (has a more robust flavor) but curly would work in a pinch as well. thanks for keeping us honest 😉
This stuff is good enough to drink 😉 So happy to have this awesome recipe on hand!
Looks like a great sauce!! We love our sauces, they add such a nice dimension to a dish. We always have some kind of sauce on hand — just in case we need that extra zip and this sauce fits the bill.
Your version is good I been making this sauce for a number of years it’s was originated in Brazil, I am a great fan of this sauce and prepare it regularly I use the entire stems of the parsley and cilantro I fine a lot of flavor come from them capers I never tried but sounds great I love Capers, Piccata dishes are my favorite you have a great recipe here very well done going to make some tonight and add capers. thanks
Chef Ernie