Carrot Top Chimichurri Sauce

Carrot Top Chimichurri Sauce is a rich, refreshing, tasteful, tangy, and herbaceous sauce made from simple ingredients like carrot greens, garlic, lemon juice, cilantro, and olive oil. The sauce is a perfect condiment to go with your main course.

We all know the many benefits of greens. The most widely loved greens include spinach, kale, and other leafy greens. But have you ever noticed these aren’t the only greens out there? Some greens come with other vegetables, which we happily ignore.

Also check out, Caribbean Green Seasoning, Tofu Steaks With Avocado Chimichurri, and Roasted Beets With Chimichurri Sauce. 

The other day I was slicing carrots, and it occurred to me how much food we waste on a daily basis. I mean, every single cell of the vegetable is loaded with nutrients from roots to leaves, but we still are selective about the parts we use.

A quick googling on carrots tops (the green leafy parts of carrots) will tell how the level of nutrients and benefits this part holds that we waste or discard. So, some more time googling opened my eyes to different ways we can use this amazing yet ignored part of the carrot.

Carrot top chimichurri sauce is not just a tasteful recipe, but it uses carrot tops which means we are minimizing food waste to a tiny bit (we have to start somewhere, right).

Yet, it is a delicious sauce that you can enjoy in so many different ways. And the best part is you won’t know you are eating something out of the ordinary. The flavors pair up so well that the sauce seems like any other tasteful vegan 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.

Step 4: take the sauce out of the food processor bowl into a serving bowl. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours to let the flavors adjust and serve.

What to serve with carrot top chimichurri sauce?

Carrot top chimichurri sauce is super versatile. You can enjoy it with several appetizers, snacks, and side dishes. Here are a few vegan dishes that you can enjoy with this carrot top chimichurri sauce:

• Roasted carrots: What is better to serve carrot top chimichurri sauce with roasted or glazed carrots. It is a tasteful combination.
• Roasted vegetables: You can serve this sauce with not just roasted carrots but other vegetables as well. For instance, it goes so well with roasted brussels sprouts, kale chips, asparagus, and potatoes, as well.
• Tofu steak: Serve it as a condiment with tofu steak. This sauce adds so much flavor to your vegan steak.
• Vegan burger: You can use this sauce in vegan burgers or sandwiches as well.
• Tacos: It goes so well as a topping on your vegan taco.
• Bread: The sauce goes very well with bread. You can drizzle it on a piece of bread and enjoy a quick snack.

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

1. Jamaican Jerk Sauce
2. Vegan Cheese Sauce
3. Tamarind Sauce
4. Simple Salsa Recipe
5. Miso Hummus

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