Chimichurri and Other Cilantro Sauces

A super healthy and tasty addition to many dishes

These sauces are cilantro, garlic and lime juice based and taste delicious with meat, chicken or fish. Not only do they elevate many plain dishes to a bursting culinary experience they also are super healthy and no moderation is needed.

In this blog you will find recipes for:

• Chimichurri sauce
• Spicy cilantro sauce with spinach
• Creamy spicy cilantro sauce with mint
• Also: Fried Banza rice with mushrooms

The main ingredient for these sauces is cilantro, but Italian parsley or parsley can also be used. 

Chimichurri Sauce:

Chimichurri is an Argentinian sauce traditionally served with steak. Most supermarkets carry a variety of chimichurri sauces, but it is best home-made. It is also great with chicken or a firm fish or shellfish if you want to add a strong flavor. 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped cilantro or parsley
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 4 large garlic cloves, minced 
• 2 tablespoons oregano leaves
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
• Himalayan pink salt to taste
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:

Blend all ingredients except olive oil in a food processor until coarsly chopped. Add olive oil and pulse one or two times and pour into a dish. Let stand for 20 minutes before serving.

Spicy Green Sauce with Cilantro and Spinach

This is another variation of our favorite green sauces, this time with added spinach. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup  cilantro, slightly chopped
• 1 cup chopped organic baby spinach
• ½ serrano pepper, finely diced
• ½  lime, juice
• ½  cup olive oil 
• 1  garlic clove, chopped or crushed
• Salt to taste

Directions:

First blend the lemon juice, garlic and serrano peppers until fairly smooth. Then add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth. Season with salt to taste.

Creamy Spicy Green Sauce with Cilantro and Mint:

A favorite in our family is this creamy cilantro sauce which tastes great with any meat or fish. It is very flavorful and you can control the level of heat by adding more or less of the serrano peppers. I usually take out the seeds, but if you use those, the sauce will get really hot. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fat free Greek yogurt or sour cream
• 1 cup  cilantro, slightly chopped
• ¼ cup  mint, leaves only
• ½ serrano pepper, finely diced
• ½  lime, juice
• 1  garlic clove, chopped or crushed
• Salt to taste

Directions:

First blend the lemon juice, garlic and serrano peppers until fairly smooth. Then add the rest of the ingredients and blend until rather smooth, but small pieces of the cilantro are still visible. Season with salt to taste.

I usually have one of these sauces on hand in the fridge, especially when I don’t have time to cook a large meal. It is so easy to throw a frozen salmon filet in the air fryer and serve it with the sauce and a quick salad or a side of quinoa or couscous. 

Here is one of my favorite side dishes for quick air fried salmon with a green sauce or a 100% grass-fed beef steak like churrasco or filet with chimichurri:

Fried Banza rice with mushrooms

(for approx. 4 portions)

For this dish I use:

• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 bag Banza rice (orzo)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Prepare the Banza rice according to package directions. In a pan, heat the olive oil and add onions and saute until translucent. Add mushrooms and saute until the mushrooms are starting to soften (do not add salt at this point or the mushrooms get too mushy). Add the cooked Banza rice and mix well with the onions and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Of course, you could add other vegetables like chopped spinach or whatever you have in your fridge.