As a spicy marinade and dipping sauce that is often served with grilled meat, chimichurri sauce is a popular offering in many Latin and South American countries, with both Argentina and the Dominican Republic claiming to be the country of origin for this tasty sauce. Easy to prepare and use, chimichurri sauce is beginning to make an impact in North America as well.

The basic ingredients for chimichurri sauce can be purchased in any local supermarket. Using olive oil as the basic medium, lemon juice and minced fresh parsley are first added to the oil. Garlic cloves and shallots are also minced and added to the mixture. Different recipes also call for the addition of salt and pepper, as well as basil, thyme or oregano. Some people prefer to add all of the spices for some extra zip. Once all the ingredients are combined, either mix the ingredients well or seal the mixture in an airtight container and shake it thoroughly.

Chimichurri sauce should be allowed to set for a minimum of two hours before being served along with grilled meats. If the idea is to use the chimichurri sauce as a marinade, it is a good idea to allow it to set overnight. This spicy sauce can be used as a dipping sauce for steak, or used as a glaze on grilled ground beef, creating a chimichurri burger. Along with chimichurri burgers, the sauce can be used as a glaze on grilled fish and chicken as well.

Chimichurri sauce is also great as an appetizer, served with chunks of crusty bread that can be dipped into the sauce. People who enjoy garlic bread or pumpernickel may find that using chimichurri as a dipping sauce with fresh hot loaves is a great way to start off the meal.

There are some recipes that call for using chimichurri sauce as a marinade for various types of beans as well. One easy recipe calls for whole green beans, chickpeas, and dark red kidney beans, with the three beans tossed lightly in chilled chimichurri sauce. The cooked beans are combined and tossed in the chimichurri sauce, then allowed to chill for an hour or two. This three-bean salad is a great compliment to grilled meat as a side dish, or served on a bed of greens as the salad course for the meal.

Chimichurri sauce can easily be prepared well in advance, and kept in the refrigerator for a week or so. One great advantage of chimichurri is that the longer it is allowed to set the greater the flavor. As the ingredients have time to mingle, the taste will only improve.