Cilantro Sauce: A Bright, Bold Staple of Latin American Flavor
There’s something enchanting about a vibrant green sauce draped over perfectly grilled meats or spooned beside a warm, golden cachapa. Enter cilantro sauce — a dazzling, herbaceous condiment that’s as versatile as it is irresistible. A culinary cousin of Argentina’s chimichurri, this version swaps parsley for cilantro, lending a citrusy, slightly peppery punch that tickles the palate. It also shares roots with Venezuela’s guasacaca, though this rendition is lighter and silkier, thanks to a touch of avocado.
We let cilantro shine here, its verdant leaves capturing the essence of fresh Latin American cuisine. A recent meal at Santarepa Café in Santa Fe rekindled my love for this sauce — arriving pooled beside a plate of cachapas and pork belly chicharrones. The flavor was unforgettable.
Gourmet Pairings
Cilantro sauce elevates anything it touches. Drizzle it generously over sweet corn cachapas with shredded carne mechada or crispy pork belly for an unforgettable fusion of sweet, savory, and bright. It adds depth to tacos, empanadas, and grilled arepas, and works wonders as a salad dressing — particularly when paired with charred vegetables or citrus-marinated proteins.
It also brings grilled meats to life. Flank steak, slow-roasted pork, or charred chicken thighs all find a perfect partner in this zesty blend. The creaminess from avocado offers just enough body without stealing the spotlight, keeping the sauce fresh and light.
Quick to Make, Impossible to Forget
One of the greatest pleasures of this sauce is its simplicity — a quick whirl in the blender, a few pantry staples, and you have a sauce that rivals anything from a fine dining kitchen. Stored in a bottle and kept chilled, it remains bright and flavorful for up to a week.
Whether you’re serving up a weekend asado or just dressing your weekday tacos, this cilantro sauce is your new secret weapon. Bold, green, and endlessly delicious — it’s Latin American sunshine in a jar.
Venezuelan Cilantro Sauce
A zesty Venezuelan sauce with cilantro, onion, bell pepper, garlic, jalapeno and avocado
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 5
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 1-1/2 cups 1x
Ingredients
- 1–1/2 packed cups fresh cilantro leaves and stems – chopped
- 1/4 packed cup fresh parsley leaves and stems – chopped
- 4 cloves fresh garlic – chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper – chopped
- 1/2 small white onion – chopped
- 2 TBL white wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 jalapeno pepper – seeded and chopped (optional)
- 3 TBL olive oil
- 1/4 tsp fresh, finely ground black pepper
- 1 ripe avocado – peeled and pitted
- Sea salt – to taste, start with 1/2 teaspoon
Instructions
- Blend all the ingredients until your sauce is smooth and bright green
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper, if needed
- If the sauce is thicker than you like, add more water a little at a time and blend again