A Quick and Not-So-Quick Chimichurri
Few sauces are as fresh and flavorful as chimichurri. It's a delicious topping for your steak, a nice dipping sauce for grilled veggies, and tastes great drizzled onto tacos and even sandwiches. Yes, you can buy pre-made chimichurri, but making your own is not that difficult, either. Here are two chimichurri recipes—one that you can make in under five minutes, and another you can make in under 30 minutes.
5-Minute Chimichurri
Actually, if you have the ingredients on-hand, you can probably whip this one up in two or three minutes, assuming you have a good food processor! You need:
- 1 Fresno chile pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 tablespoon chopped shallot (you can substitute onion if you do not have a shallot handy)
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh oregano leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 2/3 cup olive oil
Place the pepper, garlic, and shallot in the food processor, and pulse a few times to chop. Next, add the herbs and salt, and pulse the food processor a few more times. Finally, leave the food processor on low speed, and stream in the vinegar followed by the olive oil. The mixture should come together to a uniform consistency. Transfer to a glass bowl or jar, and let rest for at least an hour before using. This allows the flavors to meld and develop.
30-Minute Chimichurri
This recipe has you saute the garlic, shallots, and pepper for a more intense flavor. Plus, a hint of citrus rounds out the sauce. You'll need:
- 1 Fresno chile pepper
- 4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 1 shallot, roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh oregano leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 2/3 cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil
Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet, and add the shallots, garlic, and peppers. Saute gently for about 5 minutes or until the ingredients just start to take on some color. Let these ingredients cool to room temperature before proceeding.
Mince the garlic, shallots, and pepper in the food processor. Add the herbs and salt, and pulse a few times. Next, stream in the orange juice and vinegar, followed by the olive oil. Keep processing until uniform. Transfer to a glass jar or bowl, and let sit one hour before using. Enjoy!