Chimichurri for Tri Tip
The single best sauce for grilled tri tip. Bright, herbaceous, acidic. Parsley, oregano, red wine vinegar, garlic, and olive oil.
Chimichurri is the raw, green sauce Argentina spoons over grilled beef: parsley and oregano, a heavy hand of garlic, and enough red wine vinegar to make it bite. It is never cooked, so it stays sharp and fresh, and that is exactly the point.
On lean tri tip it does the work the cut cannot do for itself. The acid cuts the char, the herbs lift the beef, and the whole thing comes together in one bowl. Make it while the tri tip rests, then spoon it over the sliced meat or set it on the table for people to help themselves.
Ingredients
- 1 cup flat-leaf parsley (finely chopped)
- 1/4 cup fresh oregano (finely chopped)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse black pepper
Instructions
- 1
Finely chop flat-leaf parsley, fresh oregano, and garlic. Combine in a bowl with red wine vinegar, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and salt.
Use flat-leaf parsley, not curly. Curly parsley is garnish. Flat-leaf has actual flavor. Chop by hand with a sharp knife. A food processor turns it into green paste instead of a chunky sauce.
- 2
Stir everything together. The consistency should be loose and spoonable, more vinaigrette than pesto. Add more oil if it’s too thick.
The ratio matters: more vinegar than you think, enough oil to carry it, and enough red pepper flakes to feel it but not enough to dominate. Taste it. It should be bright and sharp, not mellow.
- 3
Let it sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before serving. Spoon it over sliced tri tip or serve it on the side.
Make it 2-4 hours ahead if you can. The vinegar softens the raw garlic edge and the flavors meld. It holds for 3-4 days in the fridge but the color fades after day one. Always serve at room temp, never cold.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving
- Calories
- 70
- Protein
- 0 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Sat. Fat
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 1 g
- Fiber
- 0 g
- Sodium
- 75 mg
- Cholesterol
- 0 mg
Values are estimates based on standard ingredients and serving sizes.
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