Cilantro Chimichurri with a Smoky Twist: Ditch the processed stuff and experience the taste of fresh, homemade chimichurri. This recipe adds a touch of smoky chipotle to the classic blend of cilantro, citrus, and herbs, creating a flavor explosion that elevates any dish.
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It costs approximately $4.05 to make this sauce. The recipe makes four servings for around $1.01 per serving.
Table of Contents
When you need a marinade, sauce, or dip, do not go to the store to buy one. You can quickly and easily make your own at home that tastes way better than anything you can buy!
With a short list of ingredients and a food processor, you will be on your way to upgrading your meat, veggies, and fish with this recipe for chimichurri with cilantro.
What You’ll Love About Chipotle Chimichurri:
- Fresh Ingredients: The fresh cilantro, parsley, and onion add a delicious element over dried ingredients.
- Bold Flavor: This recipe differs from others by adding a chipotle pepper and citrus. It creates a fresh, bold taste that is hard to resist.
- Easy Recipe: Add everything to the food processor and process. It takes just five minutes to make this sauce.
Ingredients and Estimated Cost:
- 1 cup fresh cilantro – $0.32
- ½ cup fresh parsley – $0.44
- ½ small white onion – $1.04
- 4 cloves of garlic – $0.12
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo – $0.13
- 1 Tablespoon adobo sauce – $0.09
- 2 limes – $0.16
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil – $1.12
- 1 teaspoon honey – $0.06
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano – $0.44
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt – $0.01
- ¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper – $0.12
NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have. I updated the prices for this recipe in December 2023.
How To Make Chimichurri Sauce:
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
- First, place all the ingredients in a food processor.
- Process for about thirty seconds.
- To finish, adjust the seasonings as needed before serving.
Serving and Storage Tips:
Serve: If serving as a dipping sauce, I like to drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil right over the top before serving. I like to serve chimichurri on steak, salmon, chicken, or as a marinade.
Store: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
Freeze: This recipe does not freeze and defrost well, so I don’t recommend freezing it.
Chimichurri Sauce Recipe FAQs:
What is chimichurri?
Generally, Chimichurri is a thick sauce filled with herbs, olive oil, an acid-like vinegar, parsley, oregano, and spicy ingredients like cayenne pepper. It’s known as Argentina’s ketchup and is a must on grilled meats.
I added a modern twist using smoked jalapeno (chipotle peppers in Adobe) and swapping vinegar for citrusy limes. Two words—Bomb-diggity!
How to make chimichurri?
You are going to love how easy it is to make.
- Prep the herbs by washing and drying them well. Add leaves and tender stems to a food processor with all the other ingredients.
- When ready, process all ingredients until the desired chunky consistency is met.
- Enjoy right away, marinate meat and veggies with this delicious chimichurri sauce, or store it in an airtight container for up to five days.
Is this chimichurri sauce spicy?
I find that chimichurri has a mild spice flavor. This sauce is entirely customizable. Make it spicy or not spicy at all. Chipotle peppers are in this recipe, making it not only spicy but smoky.
How to thin out chimichurri?
Add a tbsp of water until the desired consistency is met.
Ingredients list
There is no hierarchy nor direct order in which these ingredients are listed.
| Fresh Herbs | The zest of one lime and the juice of two limes. Don’t forget to always zest before you juice! |
| Onions & Garlic | Both will add an immense amount of flavor and aroma. |
| Limes | The zest of one lime and the juice of two limes. Don’t forget to always zest before you juice! |
| Chipotle Peppers in Adobo | This recipe has a kick with just one pepper + the adobo sauce. However, if you are hankering for lots of spice, add two! |
| Other Essential Ingredients | Like oregano, olive oil, honey (to balance out the flavor), kosher salt, and coarse black pepper. |
More Dressing and Sauces:
Read the recipe from start to finish. You will better understand the flow of the recipe and identify any unfamiliar words or methods.
Shop for the ingredients beforehand. When you shop ahead, you are less likely to swap out ingredients for what you don’t have, thus creating a complete recipe fail!
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a comment below and an honest rating. ♡
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Cilantro Chimichurri
Recipe Cost $4.05 Serving Cost $1.01
Recipe Cost $ $4.05 Serving Cost $ $1.01Ingredients
- 1 cup packed fresh cilantro, tender stems, and leaves
- ½ cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley, tender stems, and leaves
- ½ small white onion
- 3-4 cloves of garlic
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo
- 1 tbsp adobo sauce
- 2 limes juice of, one of the limes you will zest
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp honey or agave nectar
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp coarse black pepper
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients into a food processor.
- Process until a thick and chunky desired consistency is met—about 30 seconds.
- Taste the chimichurri. Adjust seasoning (adding more salt etc.)
- Consume right away or store in an air-tight container for up to five days.
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
Ian says
This sauce must be so good with all the hot peppers in the world in it. I need extreme hot.