Chimichurri

Last updated

Chimichurri
Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (13294574784).jpg
Type Condiment
Place of origin Argentina
Main ingredientsfinely chopped flat-leaf parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano, chili peppers, and red wine vinegar or lemon juice
Similar dishes Persillade
Guasacaca
  • Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg Cookbook: Chimichurri
  •   Commons-logo.svg Media: Chimichurri

Chimichurri (Spanish: [tʃimiˈtʃuri] ) is an uncooked sauce used as an ingredient in cooking and as a table condiment for grilled meat. Found originally in Argentina and used in Argentinian, Uruguayan, Paraguayan and Brazilian cuisines, it has become widely adopted in most of Latin America. [1] The sauce comes in green (chimichurri verde) and red (chimichurri rojo) varieties. It is made of finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, chili peppers, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano, and red wine vinegar or lemon juice. It is similar to Moroccan chermoula and Italian pesto.

Contents

Etymology

The name may be a variant of Spanish chirriburri 'hubbub', ultimately perhaps from Basque zurrumurru 'noise, rumor'. [2] Another theory connects it to Basque tximitxurri 'hodgepodge', 'mixture of several things in no particular order'; many Basques settled in Argentina and Uruguay in the 19th century. [3]

Various false etymologies purport to explain the name as a corruption of English words, most commonly "Jimmy['s] curry", [4] [5] "Jimmy McCurry", [4] [6] or "gimme curry", [7] but no contemporary documentation of any of these stories has been found.

Preparation

Chimichurri is usually made from finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, but the other seasonings used may vary. [8] Inclusion of red wine vinegar, garlic, salt, black pepper, oregano, crushed pepper flakes or other preparations of chili pepper, and olive or sunflower oil is typical (plus a shot of hot water). [8] [9] Some recipes add onion or shallot, and lemon juice. [9] The sauce can be basted or spooned onto meat as it cooks, or onto the cooked surface of meat as it rests. [9] Chimichurri is often served as an accompaniment to churrascos (grilled meats). [8] It may be served with grilled steaks or roasted sausages, [1] but also with poultry or fish.

Usage

In January 2025, Sabra produced a new hummus with chimichurri flavor. [10] In September 2025, Chipotle Mexican Grill introduced a limited-time red chimichurri side item. [11]

Other uses of the term

In the Dominican Republic, chimichurri or chimi refers to a hamburger topped with chopped cabbage and salsa golf . [12]

In the cuisine of León, Mexico, chimichurri is a pizza topping of mayonnaise, mustard, chile de árbol , white vinegar, garlic, oil, and salt. This dressing has an orange hue and is very popular in the city. [13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Joyce Goldstein, "The mysterious origins of chimichurri", San Francisco Chronicle (October 5, 2012).
  2. ↑ Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v.
  3. ↑ Raichlen, Steven (2010). Planet Barbecue!. Workman Publishing Company. p. 159. ISBN   978-0-7611-4801-2.
  4. 1 2 Austen Weaver, Tara (2010). The Butcher and the Vegetarian: One Woman's Romp Through a World of Men, Meat, and Moral Crisis. Rodale Books. p. 41. ISBN   978-1-60529-996-9.
  5. ↑ Dobson, Francisco Ross (2010). Fired Up: No Nonsense Barbecuing. Murdoch Books. p. 58. ISBN   978-1-74196-798-2 . Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  6. ↑ Cooper, Cinnamon (2010). The Everything Cast-Iron Cookbook. Adams Media. p. 137. ISBN   978-1-4405-0225-5 . Retrieved December 6, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ John Torode in "A Cook Abroad", season 1, episode 3, BBC, 2015, .
  8. 1 2 3 Maria Baez Kijac, The South American Table: The Flavor and Soul of Authentic Home Cooking from Patagonia to Rio de Janeiro, with 450 Recipes (Harvard Common Press, 2003), p. 337.
  9. 1 2 3 Blumer, Bob. "Steak Gaucho-Style with Argentinian Chimichurri Sauce". Food Network. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  10. ↑ Staff Reports (January 31, 2025). "Sabra releases new falafel and chimichurri hummus flavors". Newspapers.com. Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. C2. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  11. ↑ Ruggless, Ron (September 29, 2025). "Chipotle adds red chimichurri as limited-time option". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  12. ↑ Helen Grave, 101 Sandwiches, ISBN   1782492992
  13. ↑ "La salsa chimichurri de León". Bonito León (in European Spanish). January 2, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.