Showing posts with label chimichurri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chimichurri. Show all posts

Venison in Chimichurri Sauce

Friday, May 2, 2014

Chimichurri originated from Argentina, where it is used as a sauce or marinade for grilled meats. Today, it is used in all kinds of cuisines. Countries like Uruguay, Southern Brazil, Bolivia, Ecaudor and Mexico all have their own versions of chimichurri. The sauce is simply made with oil, vinegar and a combination of common herbs and spices like cilantro, garlic, jalapeno and parsley. Because of its acidic element, it makes the ideal marinade for tenderizing tougher cuts of meat. While everyone hails over venison inside straps and outside loins, leg meat is often under-utilized, to be thrown in the hamburger or jerky pile. But if you
take enough care and time to properly separate all the different leg muscles on a deer, you will find that you can get some pretty decent pieces for grilling. We like to cut them up to get little steaks, like so. Oftentimes, they prove to be just as tender as any backstrap. 

Servings: 2
Marinade Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 5-8 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. of venison, whatever cut you like
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup of cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup of flat leaf parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup of onion, chopped
- half a jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
- 1/4 cup of red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup of olive oil
- 1 tbs. of dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp. of kosher salt, plus more

1. In a large nonmetal bowl, combine 1/4 tsp. of salt, red wine vinegar, garlic, jalapeno and onion. Allow ingredients to marry for 10 minutes. 

Next, stir in cilantro, parsley and oregano. With a fork, whisk in oil. Remove some chimichurri to a small bowl to reserve as sauce. Season with salt, to taste.
2. Remove all silver skin and fat from venison. Season lightly with salt, to taste. 
Give the chimichurri sauce another quick whisk. Add venison to the bowl and coat thoroughly. Marinate covered for at least 1 hour.

Our meat was cold. We marinated for 1 hour at room temperature so the meat would be immediately ready for the grill. If you plan to marinate longer or ahead of time, stick it in the fridge.
3. Once marinated, grill venison over direct heat for 2-3 minutes each side for medium-rare. Dont overcook. 

Allow meat to rest for 5 minutes. The smell will be fantastic!

We served our venison with hasselback potatoes, which is the swedish version of a baked potato: Preheat oven to 425 F. Scrub potatoes, but leave skin on. Cut potatoes almost all the way through. Drizzle with olive oil, butter, salt and pepper. Stuff sliced garlic between the intervals of potato. Cover in foil and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until tender. Open up foil at the end to allow skin to crisp.
Spoon reserved sauce over grilled venison. Enjoy!
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A Chimichurri Sauce Recipe Even Jimmy McCurry Would Have Loved

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Chimichurri is a fabulous green sauce thats been steadily growing in popularity across the American restaurant landscape. For chefs, this Argentinean export falls into that magical category of sauces that literally go with everything.

This herby, garlicky, tangy, spicy and very green condiment is great on all kinds of grilled meats, which according to my sources deep within the Argentinean food history subculture was its original use. Besides slathered all over a thick steak, chimichurri is equally wonderful on poultry, seafood, vegetables, or just a piece of crusty bread.

How chimichurri sauce came to be named is such a fascinating story, I really hope its true. As the legend goes, an Irishman named Jimmy McCurry (for some reason fighting alongside the Argentinean independence movement in the early 1800s) is credited with introducing this sauce to the local population.

Over the years the name became corrupted, and Jimmy McCurry sauce became chimichurri sauce. Makes perfect sense. I can only hope one day someone will read about me in a Wikipedia entry while researching the origins of "Jonemitzawa Sauce."

By the way, this is my version of chimichurri sauce, which may or may not be authentic. Either way, enjoy!




Ingredients:
1/2 cup mild olive oil
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar, or to taste
1 large bunch Italian parsley
1/2 cup packed freshly picked cilantro leaves
1/4 cup packed freshly picked oregano leaves
4-6 cloves garlic, sliced
1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste


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Have you heard? Food Wishes has been nominated in the video category for the Saveur Magazine 1st Annual Best Food Blog Awards! Help us turn the honor of being nominated into the reality of a glorious win! Please follow this link to cast your vote now. Thanks!
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