Carrot Top Chimichurri Sauce

What is a Carrot Top Chimichurri Sauce?

A Chimichurri Sauce is a refreshing sauce made from fresh herbs and ingredients. The sauce is uncooked and is flavorsome, tasteful, and crunchy. The sauce is typically made from garlic, parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, and vinegar

It is widely enjoyed in Uruguayan and Argentinian cuisine, where it is an essential condiment at lunch or dinner table. You can serve it with a number of sides. It goes well with meat, vegetables, bread, etc.

A Carrot Top Chimichurri Sauce is actually a customized version of the traditional chimichurri sauce. It uses carrot tops or carrot greens as a main ingredient along with other herbs like cilantro, oregano, etc. This sauce is rich in nutrients and is the best way to reduce carrot waste.

It is super easy to make, but above all, it is versatile, which means it goes well with almost everything.

Ingredients breakdown

With seven main ingredients, you can easily make this delicious carrot top chimichurri sauce. Here is a list of all the items you will need:

Olive oil: Olive oil is an essential ingredient in making chimichurri sauce. That’s because it is rich in healthy fats and nutrients. Plus, it adds a flavor to the sauce and helps in getting the right texture.

Cilantro leaves: the next main ingredient in making a chimichurri sauce is cilantro leaves. Always choose fresh, bright green leaves for this recipe. Choosing light green or pale leaves that are on their way to withering will change the flavor and color of the sauce. Because chimichurri sauce is not just about the flavors but about the visual effect, so you have to be careful when choosing the ingredients. Freshness is the key. Also, although cilantro has a citrusy flavor, sometimes the leaves can be bitter. So, it’s better to taste a few leaves to make sure the flavors are on the spot.

Carrot tops: The hero of this chimichurri sauce is carrot tops. These are the green parts of the carrots that we usually discard. Simply wash them thoroughly to get rid of dirt and debris and chop them finely.

Oregano leaves: Oregano leaves have an earthy and peppery flavor. I prefer using fresh herbs for this recipe, but you can use dried ones as well.

Onion: Onions add a crunch to this chimichurri sauce. Plus, you get a slightly sweet yet savory flavor. You can either use red or white onions for this recipe. I prefer using red onions as white onion is slightly sweet in flavor.

Garlic: Garlic adds so much flavor to this sauce. It has a prominent deep savory flavor.

Lemon juice: It adds a refreshing yet citrusy flavor to this sauce. You can replace it with either lime juice or vinegar.

Cayenne pepper: A dash of cayenne pepper adds heat to this sauce.

Salt: Add salt as per your liking to adjust the flavor of this sauce.

How to make carrot top chimichurri sauce?

Making carrot top chimichurri sauce is super easy to make. The easiest way to prepare it is by making it in a food processor. You can also make it by showing your knife skills. Because you have to finely chop everything, a food processor works best. Here is what you have to do

Step 1: first of all, peel the red onion and garlic cloves. Add them to a food processor bowl along with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Start the processor and give it a pulse so that everything is well chopped.

Step 2: now add carrot top, cilantro, oregano, cayenne pepper and salt.

Step 3: pour olive oil and pulse again until everything is finely chopped.

Can you add more flavor to this carrot top chimichurri sauce?

Yes! You can add more flavor to this chimichurri sauce by adding the following ingredients:

Green tomatoes: although it will give a salsa vibe but try adding green tomatoes to this sauce. You will enjoy the flavor.

Spices: you can add spices like cumin, or smoked paprika to get more flavors.

Herbs: use fresh or dried herbs like thyme, tarragon, or basil for more flavor.

Parsley: you can replace cilantro with parsley and enjoy!

Can you store carrot top chimichurri sauce?

The good thing about this carrot top chimichurri sauce is that you can make it in a large batch and store it in an airtight jar. Refrigerate the sauce for up to 15 days. This way you can enjoy it with your main course or snacks whenever you like. Just don’t forget to stir it a bit to ensure the flavors are spread evenly across the sauce.

Can you freeze carrot top chimichurri sauce?

Absolutely! You can also freeze this sauce. Add the sauce to the ice cube tray and freeze for up to 4 months. This way, you can take it out cube by cube. Let it thaw and enjoy!

Other Sauces To Prepare

Jamaican Jerk Sauce

Vegan Cheese Sauce

Tamarind Sauce

Simple Salsa Recipe

Miso Hummus