This Avocado Chimichurri Sauce is a quick and versatile sauce that combines verdant green onions, Italian parsley, cilantro, garlic, and a zesty blend of red wine vinegar, lime zest, and red pepper. Drizzle it over grilled meats, use it as a dip, or incorporate it into your favorite recipes for an extra burst of flavor. Best of all, this dish can be made in just 5 minutes!
Jump to:
- A Creamy Twist on a Classic Table Sauce: Avocado Chimichurri
- Ingredients needed to make Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
- Tips for Making the Perfect Creamy Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
- Variations and substitutions
- How to serve Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
- How long does Avocado Chimichurri Sauce Keep?
- What tools do you need to make Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
- Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
A Creamy Twist on a Classic Table Sauce: Avocado Chimichurri
Originating from Argentinian and Uruguayan cuisine, traditional Chimichurri is known for its simple yet delicious combination of parsley, garlic, olive oil, oregano, and red wine vinegar. Paying homage to this culinary classic, I've crafted a unique variation that adds a creamy twist to classic chimichurri.
Introducing Avocado Chimichurri Sauce – a delightful rendition that incorporates the traditional base ingredients alongside cilantro, red pepper, oregano, lime, salt, and the luscious addition of creamy avocado. This harmonious blend is perfect for drizzling, dolloping, or generously drenching your favorite dishes. Get ready to experience a whole new level of flavor with this irresistible avocado chimichurri creation.
Ingredients needed to make Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
- Avocado
- Green onions
- Italian flat-leaf parsley
- Cilantro
- Lime juice and zest
- Garlic cloves (may swap the garlic and olive oil for garlic-infused olive oil)
- Olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Dried oregano
- Red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt
Tips for Making the Perfect Creamy Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
Follow these helpful tips to ensure that your Avocado Chimichurri Sauce turns out absolutely delicious:
- Fresh and Vibrant Ingredients: To achieve the best flavor, use fresh and high-quality ingredients. Opt for crisp green onions, vibrant herbs like parsley and cilantro, and perfectly ripe avocados. The quality of the ingredients will greatly impact the overall taste of the sauce.
- Blending Consistency: When blending the ingredients, pay attention to the desired consistency of the sauce. Blend it for a shorter time if you prefer a chunkier texture with visible herb and onion pieces. Blend it longer for a smoother, more homogeneous sauce. Adjust the blending time to achieve your preferred level of smoothness.
- Taste and Adjust: Before storing the sauce, taste it and adjust the seasoning if needed. Add a pinch more salt, a squeeze of lime juice, or an extra sprinkle of red pepper flakes to fine-tune the flavors to your liking. Remember, you can always add more, but it's harder to take away.
- Storage and Preservation: To maintain the freshness and quality of the Avocado Chimichurri Sauce, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This will help preserve its vibrant color and flavors. Ensure that the container is properly sealed to prevent any air exposure that may cause the sauce to oxidize. A great option for storing the sauce is to use Weck jars. These jars are not only perfect for storage but also convenient for blending the sauce directly in them.
- Creative Serving Ideas: While the traditional uses of chimichurri sauce are mentioned, don't hesitate to explore unique and inventive ways to enjoy your Avocado Chimichurri Sauce. Use it as a marinade for grilled proteins, as a dressing for salads, or as a condiment for sandwiches and wraps. Let your culinary creativity shine!
Variations and substitutions
- Herb Swap: Experiment with different herbs to give the sauce a unique twist. Replace the Italian parsley or cilantro with fresh basil, mint, or even dill for a refreshing flavor profile.
- Spice Level: Adjust the heat level by increasing or decreasing the amount of red pepper flakes. If you prefer a milder sauce, reduce the amount or omit them entirely. For those who love a spicy kick, add more flakes, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or even a chili pepper -- Fresno chilis and jalapenos are both nice.
- Citrus Zing: While lime zest and juice provide a tangy brightness, you can switch it up with other citrus fruits like lemon or orange. Each citrus variation will bring its own distinct aroma and flavor to the sauce.
- Creaminess Enhancement: If you desire an even creamier texture, add a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream to the mix. This addition will impart a luscious richness to the sauce while maintaining its vibrant flavor.
- Nutty Twist: For a nutty undertone, incorporate a small handful of toasted almonds or pine nuts into the blend. These nuts will add a delightful crunch and depth of flavor to the sauce.
- Increase the Garlic: If you can't get enough of garlic, increase the amount of minced garlic or garlic oil, or add roasted garlic cloves for a more intense garlic flavor. Just be mindful of the balance with the other ingredients.
Get Creative: Customize Your Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
Remember, these variations and substitutions are meant to inspire your culinary exploration. Feel free to get creative and make the Avocado Chimichurri Sauce uniquely yours. Don't be afraid to experiment and adapt the recipe according to your preferences, and enjoy the delicious results!
How to serve Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
Indulge in the versatility of this Avocado Chimichurri Sauce by trying out these creative serving ideas:
- Grilled or Roasted Meats: Pair it with Grilled Skirt Steak for a match made in culinary heaven. It also complements other grilled meats like chicken, fish, and pork. Some more recipes that it would pair deliciously with are: Grilled Chicken Wings, Pressure Cooker Barbacoa Beef, Braised Leg of Lamb, and this Crispy Oven Fried Fish.
- Sheet Pan Dinners: Add a flavor boost to sheet pan dinners by generously drizzling the sauce over bone-in chicken and hearty chopped veggies.
- Rotisserie Chicken: Give your rotisserie chicken a mouthwatering upgrade with this sauce - drizzle, dip, and devour!
- Grilled Vegetables: Elevate your grilled vegetable game by drizzling it over corn, carrots, squash, and potatoes.
- Roasted Vegetables: Drizzle it over top of smashed potatoes. Use it as a saucy base for roasted whole cauliflower or drizzle it over cauliflower steaks, adding an extra sprinkle of red pepper flakes or sautéed peppers for a touch of spice. It would also be really tasty drizzle over these Garlic Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes.
- A Vegetarian or Vegan Option: Top grilled halloumi or tofu with this delicious sauce for a vegetarian twist.
- Bread and Wraps: Amp up your toast game by spreading a generous smear of the sauce over toast topped with smoked salmon. It also makes a delicious spread for sandwiches and wraps.
- Dip or Condiment: Use as a dip or condiment for fresh veggies or French fries. It's also great as a dip for Blistered Shishito Peppers!
- Shrimp Cocktail: Serve this sauce alongside a shrimp cocktail for a delightful twist on traditional cocktail sauce.
- In Place of Guacamole: Ditch the guacamole and instead drizzle this sauce over tacos, taco salads, quesadillas, taquitos, and huevos rancheros -- Try it on these Salmon Tacos!
- Beans: Discover the mouthwatering combination of the sauce swirled into a pot of beans, with Cannellini or Great White Northern beans being popular choices. It would also be really nice drizzled on top of this Chicken Poblano Chili.
How long does Avocado Chimichurri Sauce Keep?
Avocado Chimichurri Sauce can typically be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Its freshness and quality are best maintained within this timeframe.
A note for using leftover Avocado Chimichurri:
Before using the sauce, give it a stir or gently shake the container to redistribute any separation that may have occurred during storage.
What tools do you need to make Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
- A cutting board
- A chef's knife
- A citrus zester
- A kitchen scale (or measuring cups for less precise measurements)
- Measuring spoons
- A food processor or high-powered blender
Are you looking to upgrade your cooking tools or replenish your pantry? Check out my kitchen tools shop page and pantry staples shop page to find my must-have kitchen tools, pantry items, and other Whip & Wander favorites.
PrintAvocado Chimichurri Sauce
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
- Category: Sauces & Savory Condiments
- Method: Food Processor
- Cuisine: Latin American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Avocado Chimichurri Sauce is a quick and versatile sauce that combines verdant green onions, Italian parsley, cilantro, garlic, and a zesty blend of red wine vinegar, lime zest, and red pepper. Drizzle it over grilled meats, use it as a dip, or incorporate it into your favorite recipes for an extra burst of flavor. Best of all, this dish can be made in just 5 minutes!
Ingredients
- 156 g (1 ½ cups) green onions, roughly chopped
- 65 g (1 cup) flat-leaf Italian parsley, roughly chopped
- 65 g (1 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- 4 cloves garlic*
- 2 oz (¼ cup) olive oil*
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 medium lime)
- Zest of 1 medium lime
- 1 medium avocado, peeled and pitted (about 150 g flesh)
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a food processor or high-powered blender, combine the green onions, Italian parsley, cilantro, garlic, olive oil (or garlic-infused olive oil), red wine vinegar, lime zest, lime juice, avocado, sea salt, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes.
- Process or blend the ingredients until they reach your desired consistency. For a smoother sauce, continue blending until creamy and well combined. If you prefer a chunkier texture, blend for a shorter time to leave some visible herb and onion pieces. If you prefer a thinner sauce, you can add additional oil to achieve the desired consistency. Start by adding a small amount and blend again until incorporated. Repeat until you reach the desired thickness.
- Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed. Add more salt for a bolder flavor or adjust the lime juice and red pepper flakes according to your preference. Remember to taste and adjust gradually to achieve the perfect balance of flavors.
- Once prepared, transfer the Avocado Chimichurri Sauce into an airtight container. Store the sauce in the refrigerator for up to 4 days to maintain its freshness and flavors. Ensure the container is properly sealed to prevent air exposure, which may cause the sauce to oxidize. Enjoy the Avocado Chimichurri Sauce drizzled over grilled meats, as a dip, or incorporated into your favorite recipes. The sauce's flavors will enhance a variety of dishes, adding a burst of freshness and creaminess.
Notes
Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
* If you have a garlic intolerance but can consume garlic-infused olive oil, you can swap the suggested measurements of garlic cloves and olive oil for 2 oz (¼ cup) of the infused oil.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tbsp
- Calories: 50
- Sodium: 102mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 1g
Elana Berusch says
We made this tonight for dinner along with your skirt steak recipe and it was SO GOOD! I’m so excited about eating the leftover chimichurri on everything.
Sophie says
Love chimichuri and your version looks even better. Love it so so much!
Lathiya says
The chimichurri sauce using Avocadalooks interesting and great. It's a brilliant idea to use Avocado.
Trish Bozeman says
Oh why oh why have I not thought to add avocado to an herb sauce?! Absolute genius. Creamy, herby, and so good you can eat it with a spoon. Love your idea of eating it with halloumi or tofu! YUM!
Sean@Diversivore says
I've been making basic and variation chimichurri recipes for years now, but I've never done one with avocado. I love the idea of the creamy avocado cutting into the acidity of the vinegar. I can imagine all KINDS of foods this would be good on (and your list of ideas is an amazing place to start!). Cheers!
Tina says
I LOVE Chimichurri! I'm crazy enough to put it on eggs, yep that's me. The suggestions are super helpful. I especially like the suggestion for toast and salmon. Going to try this. Saving this, thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Dana says
What a beautiful concoction. It's like cream guac meets herbaceous chimichurri and I am ALL for it. This would be so so nice on a burger! I need to make a batch. I imagine I'll go through it very quickly 😉
Marisa F. Stewart says
We simply love chimichurri sauce but I have never used avocado in it. That would certainly smooth out the flavor and texture. I would use it on my bake potatoes, chicken, and pasta. Sounds like an ideal sauce to have on hand.
Gloria says
I LOVE chimichurri sauce. I have NEVER tried it made with avocado. What an interesting and delicious idea. I love avocados...so this sounds like a plan.
Ramona says
Your version of chimichurri looks unbelievably delicious and vibrant - I must try this- love all the ingredients in there - wow, so appealing! Yumm.
Elena says
Your version looks so creamy I could eat it with a spoon!
Stine Mari says
I love chimichurri sauce but oh my this looks even better! The creamy avocado pairs so well with all the fresh herbs. Great recipe.
Erika says
I love chimichurri sauce and I love the addition of avocados here to make this sauce creamy.
Kacie says
I love avocados AND chimichurri so I know I would fall in love with the taste of this!
Jere Cassidy says
This is a new twist on the classic chimichurri sauce, can't wait to give this a try.
Jacqui Debono says
I have this when we eat out, but have never made it at home, now I need to!
Elaine Benoit says
I adore chimichurri sauce and yours looks so vibrant, fresh and delicious! I love that you added avocado. I can't wait to hop on over to the store and get the ingredients to make this!
Carol Little R.H. @studiobotanica says
I've made many versions of this green sauce.. I love the addition of avocado which adds creamy richness to the sauce, for sure! I have used it in almost all the ways you have suggested and agree.. herb-infused salsas/sauces elevate any dish and add the power of the herbs and nutritive value to all. Thanks for sharing. Great recipe!! As an herbalist, I am dedicated to adding herbs everywhere I can.. and this kind of sauce is 'on target'!!