This Mint Chimichurri is made with simple, nutritious ingredients full of flavor and doubles as a sauce and a marinade! Pair it with lamb, shrimp, chicken, and more for a refreshing touch to any dish. Vegan Option.
More Ways to Mint
Did you know that mint can be paired with more than just chocolate? Crazy, right? But it’s true! You see, when I started dating my Kiwi husband, I quickly learned that it’s commonly paired with lamb (mint sauce, mint jam, etc.) and other meats. However, they don’t just sprinkle mint pieces on top of meat. That wouldn’t be super tasty!
Instead, they combine it with other fresh herbs, spices, and oils to create an incredible sauce that’s light, refreshing, and tangy all at the same time. Turns out, it’s super delicious and the perfect sidekick to the hearty flavors of many types of meats.
What Is Chimichurri?
Traditionally, chimichurri is an uncooked condiment that doubles as both a marinade and a dipping sauce. The base starts with parsley and vinegar and comes in many varieties. Most commonly, you will find traditional green chimichurri and red chimichurri. Red versions contain the same ingredients as green chimichurri with the addition of roasted red peppers and smoked paprika.
Origins of Chimichurri
Although the exact origins of chimichurri remain debated, it is widely agreed upon that the recipe derived from Argentina.
Flavor Profile of Chimichurri
Chimichurri has a very herby or fragrant taste and often packs a slight kick due to the use of peppers.
Chimichurri Ingredients
Of course, there are endless chimichurri variations consisting of a wide variety of spices and flavors. So, feel free to experiment and add your own. However, for this mint version, we kept things short and sweet using just 8 ingredients including:
- Parsley – Fresh parsley is a must for chimichurri! Choose leaves without brown spots or blemishes.
- Mint – You absolutely need fresh mint to make this recipe. Mint is used to add a refreshing lightness to this dish.
- Garlic – For the best flavor, use whole garlic cloves, and mince them yourself.
- Lime Juice – Lime juice is used to enhance the flavor of the rest of the ingredients and adds extra zip to the sauce.
- Raw honey – Omit for a Whole30 option.
- Olive oil – Combines the ingredients, creating a rich flavor and smooth sauce.
- Salt & Pepper to Taste – Use as little or as much as you like.
Did you know? Both mint and parsley are rich in vitamins and nutrients and have a variety of health benefits including boosted immunity! In addition, parsley can be used to help improve bone health and aid in blood clotting. Meanwhile, mint can help improve digestion and improve brain function.
Is This Recipe Authentic?
Not quite. For this easy chimichurri variation, I used traditional recipes and methods as inspiration and added my own Cotter twist! You see, truly traditional recipes are made by grinding the ingredients in a mortar and pestle. However, to speed up the process, I used a food processor. In addition, traditional chimichurri does not contain mint. However, including it in the recipe has become a common variation and for good reason! It adds a refreshing element to the earthiness of the herbs.
How to Make Mint Chimichurri
This chimichurri is so easy to make, it’s almost embarrassing. But, that’s what we’re all about – simple, easy, and delicious! Here’s how to make it:
- Place the parsley, mint, peppers, lime, and honey into the bowl of a food processor, and pulse until they are well combined.
- With the food processor running, slowly add the olive oil in a steady stream.
- Pour the blended mixture into a small bowl, and gently stir in salt and pepper to taste.
Note: Your finished sauce will be a thick texture and contain small chunks of fresh herbs. You don’t want it to be completely smooth!
Tips for the Best Taste
Okay, just because a recipe is easy doesn’t mean there’s not room for improvement, right? To make sure your chimichurri turns out incredible every single time, follow these easy tips!
- Use Fresh Herbs. The fresher the herbs you use, the more flavor your sauce will have! Due to the high water content of fresh herbs, they tend to lose flavor much faster than their dried counterparts. So, it’s best to use them as soon as possible.
- Don’t Over Chop. Unlike other sauces, mint chimichurri is meant to contain pieces of the herbs. They add flavor! So, be careful not to over-pulse (or chop) your herbs.
- Use the Seeds. To add a bit of heat, try including a few of the seeds from your serrano or jalapeno pepper to the mix!
How to Store
Keep leftover sauce in an airtight jar or container, and store it in the fridge for up to3 days. Let your mint chimichurri come to room temperature, and give it a good stir before serving to make sure the ingredients don’t separate.
Freezer Option: Place your chimichurri in an ice cube tray. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag, and store them for up to 3 months.
The Best Ways to Use Chimichurri
In my opinion, there’s not much this mint chimichurri doesn’t pair well with. However, a few of my favorite recipes to incorporate it with include:
Mint Chimichurri Sauce Recipe
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: ⅔ cup 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Full of health benefits, this Mint Chimichurri recipe comes together in minutes and adds refreshing flavor to all your favorite meals!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (1 bunch) flat leaf parsley, torn
- 1 cup mint leaves with the stem
- 2 teaspoons serrano or jalapeno pepper (½ a pepper with or without the seeds) (*See notes)
- 2 garlic cloves
- ½ lime, juiced
- 1 Tablespoon honey or agave nectar
- ½ cup olive oil
- Kosher salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the parsley, mint, pepper, garlic, lime, and honey into the bowl of a food processor.
- Pulse until well combined.
- While the food processor is running, slowly add the olive oil in a steady stream.
- Pour the sauce into a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
- Use for dipping or as a marinade.
Notes
For an extra spicy sauce, include a few seeds from the pepper.
The finished cause will be thick with pieces of fresh herbs still in it. For a thinner consistency, add more oil.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: n/a
- Category: Sauces
- Method: blend
- Cuisine: latin
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 83
- Sugar: 1.6 g
- Sodium: 6.7 mg
- Fat: 8.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.9 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
This is so delicious! I will be making this all summer long!
This is so perfect!! I had mint and parsley and immediately tried it!! It was amazing! Thanks!
Perfect timing then!
I just made this for our flank steak and it is amazing! So fresh, healthy and delicious!