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CHURRASCO WITH THREE-HERB CHIMICHURRI

by Steven Raichlen

4 Servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 cup packed fresh mint leaves
  • 6 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar
  • 1/3 cup cold water
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
  • Coarse salt (kosher or sea) and black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1 1/2 pounds center-cut beef tenderloin in one piece or 3 large pork tenderloins
  1. Prepare the chimichurri: Combine the herbs and garlic in a food processor and finely chop. Add the oil, vinegar, water, hot pepper flakes and salt and pepper and process until a thick sauce forms; the chimichurri should be highly seasoned. Pour one fourth of the chimichurri into a baking dish just large enough to hold the meat.

  2. Holding the knife parallel to the cutting board, cut the tender- loin lengthwise into 4 flat, even slices. Place each slice between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound to a thickness of 1/4-inch. Arrange the steaks on top of the chimichurri in the baking dish. Pour another quarter of the chimichurri on top. Marinate the meat for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

  3. Set up the grill for direct grilling and preheat to high. Arrange the beef slices on the grate on the diagonal and grill until cooked to taste, about 2 minutes per side for medium-rare, rotating the slices 90 degrees after 1 minute to create crosshatched grill marks. Transfer the churrasco to plates or a platter and serve the remaining chimichurri sauce on the side.