Chimichurri is a bright green, uncooked sauce that originates from Argentina and Uruguay. It’s made from parsley, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and spices. Chimichurri has a fresh, herby flavor that pairs well with grilled meats, fish, vegetables, eggs, bread, and more. Here’s a look at some of the best things to serve chimichurri sauce with.
Grilled Meats
Chimichurri was created as a marinade and sauce for grilled beef. It’s commonly served with grilled steak, especially flavorful cuts like ribeye, strip, flank, or skirt steak. The fresh parsley and garlic in chimichurri balance out the hearty smokiness of the meat. It also tenderizes cheap cuts like flap meat or hanger steak. Aside from beef, it’s delicious on grilled chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, and seafood like shrimp or scallops.
Vegetables
Bright, herbaceous chimichurri works well on hearty grilled veggies too. It’s tasty on grilled asparagus, eggplant, mushrooms, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, squash, and potatoes. Drizzle chimichurri over the hot vegetables when they come off the grill. The sauce adds moisture and bold flavor to the smoky charred veggies.
Bread
Use chimichurri as a dip for breads and crackers. It’s especially good with crusty artisan bread, flatbreads, and crackers. The vinegar, oil, and herbs in the sauce give it a bold flavor that stands up to carbs. Garlic bread drizzled with chimichurri is amazing. You can also use it as a sandwich spread on focaccia or ciabatta.
Eggs
Eggs get a flavor and nutrition boost when paired with chimichurri. Try spooning the sauce over fried, poached, baked, or scrambled eggs. The herbs and garlic add lots of flavor. Chimichurri is also great on egg sandwiches, frittatas, and omelets. For breakfast, top your eggs with a dollop of the bright green chimichurri.
Salads
Liven up your salads by using chimichurri as a dressing. Whisk some chimichurri into olive oil and vinegar for a tasty salad topper. The parsley and herbs give it more flavor than regular vinaigrette. Chimichurri works well on green salads, grain bowls, potato salad, pasta salad, and more.
Fish and Seafood
The bold, herby flavors of chimichurri pair perfectly with fish and seafood. It’s delicious on grilled salmon, halibut, cod, tuna, shrimp, scallops, mussels, and more. The sauce also brings flavor to mild white fish like tilapia, snapper, and haddock. Try baking fish fillets topped with chimichurri. Or mix the sauce into tuna or salmon salad.
Pizza
Upgrade basic pizza by using chimichurri instead of regular tomato sauce. Spread the herb sauce over the dough, then add your favorite toppings. Its vibrant flavor is especially tasty with zesty ingredients like pepperoni, Italian sausage, garlic, or peppers. Chimichurri pizza tastes amazing with a drizzle of olive oil over the fresh herbs and spices.
Tacos
For flavorful tacos, add chimichurri to grilled meat or fish fillings. It’s excellent in tacos with steak, pork, chicken, shrimp, or white fish. The sauce also brightens up veggie tacos with ingredients like mushrooms, peppers, or sweet potatoes. Top your tacos with a spoonful of chimichurri for a fresher take.
Quesadillas and Nachos
Upgrade cheese quesadillas by brushing some chimichurri sauce over the tortillas before filling and grilling them. The herbs infuse the melted cheese with extra flavor. Chimichurri is also delicious drizzled over cheesy nachos. It adds flavor complexity to the dish.
Sandwiches
Chimichurri can be used as a flavor-packed spread on sandwiches. Try it on panini, burgers, subs, or pitas. The herby green sauce is especially good paired with steak, chicken, or roasted veggies. It also livens up cold sandwiches with ingredients like turkey, ham, tuna salad, egg salad, or fresh mozzarella.
Conclusion
With its fresh, vibrant flavor, chimichurri enhances so many dishes. From grilled meats to eggs, breads, salads, and tacos, there are endless ways to use this Argentinian green sauce. Chimichurri’s parsley, garlic, and herbs add a flavor punch to everything it touches. Keep a jar handy to dress up weeknight dinners or backyard barbecues.