Thai Basil & Cilantro Chimichurri

Closeup of Cilantro Thai Basil Chimichurri and fresh herbs

June 9, 2023

My sister is the grill master of our family. On her trusty Weber kettle grill she makes souvlaki and grilled shoyu lime chicken. She also makes fantastic smoked and grilled ribs. I always serve as sous chef – making marinades, skewering meats, or shuttling items in and out of the house.

Successful first smoked brisket – tender, flavorful, and juicy

More recently she has been experimenting with smoking big slabs of brisket with fantastic results. Using local kiawe wood – a variety of mesquite that was naturalized for Hawaii and is a little sweeter than the mesquite found in the western continental U.S. – she carefully watches over the whole process. She has the patience for the low and slow cook needed to produce a tender, flavorful, and juicy brisket.

Cilantro Thai Basil Chimichurri - closeup

Brisket Bánh Mì

The inspiration for this Asian chimichurri comes from one of our favorite sandwiches at The Pig & The Lady, a modern Vietnamese restaurant on Oahu. Their Pho French Dip is made with a Thai basil chimichurri. My sister took this idea and ran with it, giving the sauce more complex herbal qualities by adding cilantro.

This assertive sauce stands up well to the rich, smoked brisket. Combined with crisp Vietnamese daikon and carrot pickles, more fresh cilantro, and a little hoisin sauce, this sandwich is craveable and delicious.

Smoked brisket bahn mi with Thai basil & cilantro chimichurri
Thai Basil & Cilantro Chimichurri is perfect on a smoked brisket bánh mì

Pasta salad and more

More than a sandwich spread, this chimichurri is versatile and can be used in many other ways:

  • Serve it with grilled meats or tofu.
  • Add a little olive oil and drizzle it over roasted vegetables.
  • Thin it with even more olive oil to make a vinaigrette to dress a pasta or grain salad (like couscous or farro).
  • Put a dollop in olive oil and use it as a dip for crusty bread.
Pasta salad with chimichurri vinaigrette, currant tomatoes, feta cheese, and arugula
Pasta salad with chimichurri vinaigrette

Cilantro isn’t for everyone

If you’re one who can’t eat cilantro then you were probably turned off by the recipe name alone. But if you’re still with me then just look for some other soft herbs to substitute for the cilantro. You could use parsley like a traditional chimichurri or Italian basil or mint. Experiment and find your favorite combination of herbs.

Cilantro Thai Basil Chimichurri and fresh herbs on wooden board
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Cilantro Thai Basil Chimichurri - closeup

Thai Basil & Cilantro Chimichurri


  • Author: She’s Almost Always Hungry
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

This assertive sauce goes particularly well with smoked and grilled meats. It can also be used in a vinaigrette for roasted vegetable or pasta salads.


Ingredients

Units Scale

1 cup cilantro, stems and leaves, packed

1 cup Thai basil leaves, packed

4 scallions, white and green parts

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/41/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, to taste

4 tablespoons olive oil

23 tablespoons apple cider vinegar


Instructions

In a food processor, blend all the ingredients until smooth (small chunks are okay). If mixture is too thick, add more olive oil, one teaspoon at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.

Taste and adjust seasonings.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Condiments
  • Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
  • Calories: 66.28
  • Sugar: 0.2 g.
  • Sodium: 222.44 mg.
  • Fat: 7.06 g.
  • Saturated Fat: 0.97 G.
  • Carbohydrates: 0.69 g.
  • Fiber: 0.31 g.
  • Protein: 0.27 g.
  • Cholesterol: 0

Keywords: Cilantro, Thai Basil

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