Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (2024)

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This Basil Chimichurri recipe is perfect for topping flank steak! You can use it as a sauce or a marinade for all of your summer grilling needs!

I received a text from my sister-in-law a few weeks back.

“What’s a recipe that uses a lot of basil?”

I typed out “p-e-s”

*DING* “Not pesto.”

Damn. Okay. Let me think.Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (2)

Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (3)

“That Sausage Mustard Pasta uses a pretty good amount of it. Are you talking general uses or like, a lot of it.”

“A lot.”

Oookay.

I started thinking about it- what could I make with several cups of basil that wasn’t pesto? Nothing immediately came to mind, but then chimichurri, a vibrantly-bright-green condiment that is used either as a steak sauce or as a marinade, came to mind. Typically, its made primarily with parsley, sometimes with some oregano in there too. But I had never seen it done with basil. I had no idea if it was going to work, but a couple days later, I set out to try it out.

This. Is. Awesome.

If you have a food processor or blender, this is going to take you about 30 seconds to do- put it all in there and turn it on. It added so much fresh flavor to the flank steak that I served it with. We had our neighbors over to dinner the night that I tested this out, and they both simply raved about it. It will be a standard in this house for sure. It’s light, fresh and tangy, and I think it would be incredible in a steak taco.

Tools needed to make this basil steak sauce:

  • All you really need is either a [easyazon_link identifier=”B00NGV4506″ locale=”US” tag=”gogogogo03-20″]blender[/easyazon_link] or [easyazon_link identifier=”B008J8MJIQ” locale=”US” tag=”gogogogo03-20″]food processor[/easyazon_link] to make this Basil Chimichurri recipe!

If you liked this Basil Chimichurri, check out these other recipes that use basil:

  • Lemon Basil Gremolata with Grilled Beef Tenderloin
  • Summer Couscous Salad with Lemon Basil Dressing
  • Basil Mango Mojito
  • Orange Basil Cream Sauce

Basil Chimichurri

Author: Jacqueline

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups basil leaves
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in blender or food processor and run until a finely chunky mixture develops. Use as a condiment or a marinade. Makes 2/3 cup.

Tried this recipe?Mention @gogogogourmet or tag #gogogogourmet!

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Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (8)

ABOUT JACQUELINE

Welcome to Go Go Go Gourmet! Here you'll find recipes that are created from everyday, easy-to-find basic ingredients and put together with minimal time and energy. My motto? Less effort. More taste. Read more...

  • Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (9)
  • Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (10)
  • Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (11)
  • Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (12)
  • Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (13)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lolo says

    I am making this tomorrow night for dinner. It looks really simple and delicious. Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply

    • Go Go Go Gourmet says

      You’re so welcome! It makes me so happy to hear that you are trying it. Did you like it?!

      Reply

  2. Rikke says

    Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (14)
    Yummy yummy. Made it tonight, had with fillet steak on chiabatta roll with sliced red onion and baby spinach.
    Heavenly. I too have to much basil in my garden and had the brainwave to make chimichurri with basil rather than parsley (I have also made a thai version before with coriander/cilantro)
    Delish, thank you for the recipe and not making me think I’m the only crazy one making it with Basil. We discovered this wonder sauce in Argentina a few years ago but the best thing about food is it’s so open to experimentation.

    Reply

  3. Kristy says

    This sounds delicious. Does it keep in the fridge?

    Reply

  4. Denise says

    Super simple! Made to serve with low and slow grilled brisket…great combo! Thinking of using as a sandwich spread with leftovers.

    Reply

  5. kim donovan says

    Can this be frozen? I have a huge basil crop and can’t use it all at once.

    Reply

    • Jacqueline says

      Absolutely!

      Reply

  6. Stacey says

    OMG! This is so good, also as a dipper with bread!

    Reply

  7. Wendy Swearingen says

    OMG! Thanks for posting this! My asian market sells Thai basil by the pound for 5 bucks. I’m gonna try this tonight and if it’s half as good as I think it will be I can buy some pretty jars and make wonderful christmas presents for my friends. 🙂

    Reply

  8. Drea says

    Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (15)
    Just made it with my excess basil. The plant is growing too fast! This is tangy with a bit of spice. Going to put it on some lamb! Dipping it in bread now rhanks to an above comment haha.

    Reply

  9. Rita says

    Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (16)
    I just made this chimichurri and it was sooo good, I didn’t have enough basil so I added it cilantro. It was a match made in heaven with ribeye steaks, fries and white rice. I don’t know if you forgot to add salt on the ingredient list but it needs salt. This recipe it’s a keeper for sure!

    Reply

  10. Kathie says

    Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (17)
    i just made this and have to say it is amazing! I made it to try on steak I plan to have tomorrow. After tasting it I craved more. I ended up adding some to my turkey sandwich I had for dinner. It’ has just the right amount of zing and garlic. Thank you for this recipe!

    Reply

  11. Jeannette says

    OMG this recipe looks healthy, delicious and easy to fix. Thank you!

    Reply

  12. Suzanne says

    This looks so good! What a great way to use up basil from the garden!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Basil Chimichurri Recipe - Basil Steak Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a chimichurri sauce made of? ›

Chimichurri sauce hails from Uruguay and Argentina. It's commonly made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes, finely chopped parsley, and dried or fresh oregano.

Is chimichurri the same as basil pesto? ›

Pesto and chimichurri are both herb sauces made with garlic and olive oil, but they are very different. Pesto is an Italian sauce made with basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil. Chimichurri is an Argentine sauce made with parsley, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and red chili peppers or flakes.

How long will chimichurri last in the refrigerator? ›

Dried-herb chimichurri can last up to a week unrefrigerated and 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator.

Why is my chimichurri bitter? ›

Chimichurri can become bitter if the ingredients aren't balanced properly. Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to fix bitter-tasting chimichurri. Adding more acidity, like citrus or vinegar, can counteract bitter flavors. You can also add a touch of sweetness in the form of honey or sugar.

Why boil basil leaves for pesto? ›

Blanching basil retains its vibrant green colour for longer and helps reduce the speed of oxidation, which is responsible for an unappealing grey or brown tinge.

Why is basil pesto so expensive? ›

What is the difference between expensive and cheap pesto? Ingredients. Real pesto is made only of fresh Genovese Basil leafs from Prà near Genoa, Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Peccorino Romano cheese, pine nuts and fresh garlic.

Does chimichurri contain cilantro? ›

Traditional chimichurri does not include cilantro, but you can add it if you want! Is chimichurri spicy? The red pepper flakes in chimichurri give it a nice little kick, but it's not overly spicy. Feel free to add as much or as little as you like!

Is chimichurri bad for cholesterol? ›

And from a health standpoint, chimichurri is loaded with good-for-you benefits, including calcium, carotenes, iron, and vitamins A and C (from the parsley) and calcium, fiber, iron, and vitamins E and K (from the oregano), as well as heart-healthy garlic and the monounsaturated fat found in olive oil, which may help to ...

Can chimichurri go bad? ›

How long does chimichurri sauce last? Shelf life: Chimichurri evolves in its flavor as it ages. The fresh stage lasts about 2 to 3 weeks when refrigerated, and about 7 days if not. Chimichurri sauce is usually served aged.

Why is my chimichurri brown? ›

Recipe Tips

Use the sharpest knife in your kitchen when making this recipe. A dull knife can pulverize the herbs making the chimichurri look kind of brown.

What meat do you eat with chimichurri? ›

Best steak for Chimichurri Sauce - in South America, cuts such as flank, flat iron and skirt are popular for serving with Chimchurri Sauce because they have really great beefy flavour that pairs so well with this fresh, zingy sauce. However, Chimichurri will pair beautifully with ANY steak!

What vegetables go well with chimichurri? ›

You can use whatever vegetables you want and love on the grill. I've got eggplant, zucchini, red peppers, asparagus, and cherry tomatoes. They're grilled as simply as possible, with just a coating of olive oil and a pinch of salt.

What alcohol goes with chimichurri? ›

A more spicy chimichurri would call for a strong gin - say Plymouth or even Plymouth Navy Strength - while a mild chimichurri totally agrees with a mild gin e.g.: The Botanist.

What does chimichurri taste like? ›

If we could only use one word to describe chimichurri sauce, it would be “bright.” The combination of fresh cilantro and parsley pack an herbaceous flavor, while the red pepper flakes bring a hint of spice. Add in the garlic's spicy, pungent flavor and the vinegar's acidic tang, and that's chimichurri.

Why do they call it chimichurri? ›

The origin of its name is uncertain, though it is probably derived from the Basque tximitxurri, which means something like “a hodgepodge.” It has long since been internationalized, however, with a taste that reflects the manifold flavours brought by immigrants from different European countries.

How healthy is chimichurri? ›

And from a health standpoint, chimichurri is loaded with good-for-you benefits, including calcium, carotenes, iron, and vitamins A and C (from the parsley) and calcium, fiber, iron, and vitamins E and K (from the oregano), as well as heart-healthy garlic and the monounsaturated fat found in olive oil, which may help to ...

How is chimichurri different from pesto? ›

Pesto calls on olive oil to bind together its classic combo of basil, garlic, parmesan and pecorino cheeses, and pine nuts. Chimichurri also uses a little oil (either vegetable or olive), but, crucially, adds in white vinegar to give the sauce its signature puckery tang.

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