How to Make an Easy, Healthy Chimichurri Condiment or Marinade
Five years ago I set out to lose 45 pounds and I succeeded! Healthy eating is inherent to weight loss, but sometimes healthy eating can seem monumental and impossible to understand. Packed with flavor, the recipe below shows you how to make an easy, healthy chimichurri condiment or marinade. It’s a prime example of how healthy eating can also be great for your taste buds.
Once you remove the negative chatter in your healthy-eating thought process, you can get started with a few simple facts:
- Processed Foods = BAD; Natural Foods = GOOD
- Pre-Packaged Foods & Fried Foods = BAD; Whole Grains/Fruits & Veggies/Lean Meats & Fish = GOOD
- Soft Drinks, Some Juices, and Alcohol = BAD; Water, Water and More Water = GOOD
Obviously, this is not a precise list of what to eat and not eat, but I’m sure you get the idea.
While there are many wonderful tips for eating healthy, a few of which I’ll provide in my next post, the suggestion I want to talk about today is flavor. Or, as I like to say, FLAYVAH.
EMPLOY AS MUCH FLAVOR AS POSSIBLE
Sauces, spices and condiments can work wonders in this respect. Incorporating them in your recipes enriches the tastes buds and leaves you feeling satisfied.
I’ve walked away from many a healthy dish with the same damn-that-was-good feeling as I’ve had eating a homemade three cheese macaroni! And one of my favorite go-to sauces for this reaction is Chimichurri Sauce, OO-LA-LA.
WE CAN THANK ARGENTINA FOR CHIMICHURRI
And I do! Often!
It's healthy, super flavorful, its bright green color looks glorious over everything, and best of all, it's easy to make! Share on XFurthermore, you can customize this little gem any way you like. If you don’t like cilantro, use only parsley, if you consider cilantro a Gift From the Gods – like me – use only cilantro. You can also substitute or add any herbs you like.
Feel free to chop everything finely, whisk slightly and leave it alone. Or, you can emulsify the entire batch in a blender.
You can use the concoction as both a marinade AND a sauce. It can also be used as a condiment, a salad dressing, or a dip!
THE VERSATILITY IS ENDLESS
I’ll stop preaching and provide the recipe, but before I do, here are some pictures of the process to help you along.
FINAL PRODUCT
As you can see, this recipe on how to make an easy, healthy chimichurri condiment or marinade is also very adaptable. You can seriously whip up something that’s all your own!
Side Note: Although not used in this recipe, a food processor will allow for more versatility in the consistency and texture of the chimichurri’s final final outcome.
Be Well!
Cynthia
385Life
Live · Love · Learn
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Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce
A basic chimichurri sauce that can be easily adapted with your favorite herbs and used as a marinade, sauce, condiment, salad dressing, or dip.
NOTE: This recipe is heavy on Cilantro.
- 1.5 Cup Fresh Cilantro (packed and slightly chopped)
- 1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/3 Cup Red Wine Vinegar
- 2-3 Garlic Cloves, depending on size and your taste
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Crushed Red Pepper (or adjust amount to taste)
- 1 Teaspoon Salt (or adjust amount to taste)
- 1 Teaspoon Pepper (or adjust amount to taste)
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin (or adjust amount to taste)
Whisked By Hand
Finely chop the cilantro.
Finely chop the garlic cloves.
Combine all ingredients into a bowl and whisk by hand thoroughly until fully incorporated.
Enjoy!
Emulsified in Blender
Slightly chop the cilantro.
Rough chop the garlic cloves.
Combine all of the ingredients into the blender and puree until emulsified.
Enjoy!
Remember, you can add or substitute any herbs you like.
You can also season to taste, for instance: if you like it with a little more kick, add more crushed red pepper flakes or a couple of dashes of your favorite hot sauce.
If you want to make it into a paste instead of a liquid consistency, add less olive oil.
There are many different ways to customize this little gem and make it your own.
Oh yes, cilantro is a Gift from the Gods. I love it. I use it instead of lettuce when I make a tomato sandwich 🙂 I put it on top of my bowl of chili just before I eat it. I could put it everywhere. Thanks for that recipe, I will absolutely make and use it…everywhere LOL
How awesome…another person that adores cilantro as much as I do!