Father’s Day is the perfect time to take advantage of your garden, especially the fresh herbs that should be thriving in the mid-June sunshine. If you’re planning a family picnic for your dad, here are 3 quick and easy sauces you can make with ingredients fresh from the garden.
Argentinian-Style Chimichurri Sauce
If you’re a meat lover, nothing tastes better than a nice grilled steak in the summertime. Argentina is famous for its grass-fed, free-roaming beef cattle and chimichurri sauce is a classic complement to steak in that country. It has a bright, fresh flavor from the parsley and a little zing of vinegar that can be spiced up with red pepper flakes.
Ingredients:
Makes about 2 Cups
- 2 cups of tightly packed parsley, minced (try using Italian Giant Parsley for its large leaves)
- 3 Tablespoons of minced oregano
- 3 Tablespoons of minced garlic
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons of red pepper flakes (or to taste - spice it up how you like)
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 to 1 1/4 cups extra virgin olive oil
Instructions:
In a bowl, combine parsley, oregano, garlic, red pepper, and vinegar. Stir while drizzling in the olive oil until you have a nice sauce consistency. Put your sauce in an airtight container and store it overnight, out on the counter. The flavor will improve over time.
Once your grilled steak has rested and been sliced, drizzle as much chimichurri sauce on it as you like! This sauce also tastes great on potatoes, grilled veggies, or as a dipping sauce for bread.
Mediterranean Salmon Marinade
If you like things a little on the lighter side and prefer fish to steak, Here’s a sauce that will make your summer salmon sing.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 4 cloves of garlic, pressed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh basil (I like to use sweet Genovese Basil)
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients and brush on your salmon as it grills. This also works great as a sauce on your cooked salmon.
Vinaigrette for Grilled Vegetables
If you are a vegetarian or are just taking advantage of the fresh squash, peppers, corn, and other vegetables from your summer garden, try this vinaigrette. It works great on grilled vegetables and kabobs.
Ingredients:
- 1 shallot, minced
- 3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh chives
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil, or more to taste
Instructions:
Whisk all ingredients, except olive oil together. Drizzle in olive oil while continuing to whisk until everything is well combined. Pour dressing over grilled vegetables that have had some time to cool.
Treat Dad to the freshest of flavors this Father’s Day. Use your survival garden's produce and fresh herbs to make your summer grilling extra tasty!
