Chimichurri Explained

Country:Argentina
Type:Condiment
Main Ingredient:finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano, chili peppers, and red wine vinegar or lemon juice
Similar Dish:Persillade, guasacaca

Chimichurri (pronounced as /es/) is an uncooked sauce used as an ingredient in cooking and as a table condiment for grilled meat. Found originally in Argentina and used in Argentinian, Uruguayan, Paraguayan and Brazilian cuisines, it has become widely adopted in most of Latin America.[1] The sauce comes in green and red varieties. It is made of finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, chili peppers, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano, and red wine vinegar or lemon juice. It is similar to Moroccan chermoula and Italian pesto.

Etymology

The name may be derived from the Basque Basque: tximitxurri 'hodgepodge', 'mixture of several things in no particular order'. Another theory is that the name may be a variant of Spanish Spanish; Castilian: chirriburri 'hubbub', ultimately perhaps from Basque Basque: [[wikt:zurrumurru|zurrumurru]] 'noise, rumor',[2] many Basques settled in Argentina and Uruguay in the 19th century.[3]

Various false etymologies purport to explain the name as a corruption of English words, most commonly "Jimmy['s] curry",[4] [5] "Jimmy McCurry",[6] or "gimme curry",[7] but no contemporary documentation of any of these stories has been found.

Preparation

Spanish; Castilian: Chimichurri is usually made from finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, but the other seasonings used may vary.[8] Inclusion of red wine vinegar, garlic, salt, black pepper, oregano, crushed pepper flakes or other preparations of chili pepper, and olive or sunflower oil is typical (plus a shot of hot water).[9] Some recipes add onion or shallot, and lemon juice. The sauce can be basted or spooned onto meat as it cooks, or onto the cooked surface of meat as it rests.

Usage

Chimichurri is often served as an accompaniment to churrascos (grilled meats). It may be served with grilled steaks or roasted sausages, but also with poultry or fish.

Other uses of the term

In the Dominican Republic, Spanish; Castilian: [[Chimichurri burger|chimichurri]] or Spanish; Castilian: chimi refers to a hamburger topped with chopped cabbage and Spanish; Castilian: [[salsa golf]].[10]

In the cuisine of León, Mexico, Spanish; Castilian: chimichurri is a pizza topping of mayonnaise, mustard, Spanish; Castilian: [[chile de árbol]], white vinegar, garlic, oil, and salt. This dressing has an orange hue and is very popular in the city.[11]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Joyce Goldstein, "The mysterious origins of chimichurri", San Francisco Chronicle (October 5, 2012).
  2. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v.
  3. Book: Raichlen . Steven . Planet Barbecue! . 2010 . Workman Publishing Company . 978-0-7611-4801-2 . 159.
  4. Book: Austen Weaver . Tara . The Butcher and the Vegetarian: One Woman's Romp Through a World of Men, Meat, and Moral Crisis . 2010 . Rodale Books . 978-1-60529-996-9 . 41.
  5. Book: Dobson . Francisco Ross . Fired Up: No Nonsense Barbecuing . December 6, 2011 . 2010 . Murdoch Books . 978-1-74196-798-2 . 58.
  6. Book: Cooper, Cinnamon . The Everything Cast-Iron Cookbook . 2010 . Avon, Massachusetts . Adams Media . 978-1-4405-0225-5 . 137 . 436031440.
  7. [John Torode]
  8. Maria Baez Kijac, The South American Table: The Flavor and Soul of Authentic Home Cooking from Patagonia to Rio de Janeiro, with 450 Recipes (Harvard Common Press, 2003), p. 337.
  9. Web site: Blumer . Bob . Steak Gaucho-Style with Argentinian Chimichurri Sauce . Food Network . September 11, 2017.
  10. Helen Grave, 101 Sandwiches, https://books.google.com/books?id=rSvHCQAAQBAJ&dq=chimichurri+hamburger+dominican&pg=PT157
  11. Web site: La salsa chimichurri de León . January 2, 2019 . Bonito León . es-ES . October 25, 2019.