Fresh Chimichurri Sauce Recipe Easy Homemade Herbaceous Flavor
A quick and easy fresh chimichurri sauce bursting with vibrant herbs, garlic, and tangy vinegar, perfect for grilled meats, veggies, and more.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: About 1 cup (approximately 8 servings of 2 tablespoons each) 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Cuisine: Argentine
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup fresh parsley, packed, finely chopped (flat-leaf parsley preferred)
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, packed, finely chopped (optional)
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican oregano)
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse parsley and cilantro under cold water and pat dry thoroughly. Remove any thick stems. Finely chop herbs to about small dice size. Mince garlic cloves finely. (About 10 minutes)
- In a mixing bowl, combine chopped herbs, minced garlic, dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir to distribute evenly.
- Add red wine vinegar and lemon juice (if using). Slowly drizzle in extra virgin olive oil while stirring continuously to emulsify the mixture until glossy and vibrant green. (About 5 minutes)
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, vinegar, or crushed red pepper flakes as desired.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap or transfer to airtight container. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld (overnight is better). Sauce will thicken slightly and flavors deepen.
- Before serving, give a gentle stir. If too thick, add 1-2 teaspoons olive oil to loosen.
Notes
Use fresh herbs for best flavor. Do not over-process if using a blender to maintain texture. Let sauce rest for at least 30 minutes or overnight for best flavor. Adjust acidity after resting. Add honey (¼ teaspoon) if sauce tastes too sharp. Can freeze in ice cube trays for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 90
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 1
- Protein: 0.5
Keywords: chimichurri, chimichurri sauce, fresh chimichurri, herb sauce, grilled steak sauce, easy chimichurri, homemade chimichurri, Argentine sauce, herbaceous sauce