Chargrilled summer veggies with a generous serving of authentic Mexican chimichurri is the easiest and tastiest recipe for a weeknight meal or your weekend cookouts. I love love love to give my oven a rest during the spring and summer and everything I make is pretty much done on the grill or smoker. I can’t get enough of the smokiness of the veggies and how it is beautifully balanced with an herby robust chimichurri.

What is Chimichurri? 

Chimichurri is a beautiful raw sauce that is used in several Mexican and South American dishes.  There are two chimichurri sauces, a Mexican chimichurri that is primarily made with parsley and cilantro (like in this recipe), or an Argentinian chimichurri that uses parsley and oregano.  Having lived in San Antonio for a while, I tend to favor the Mexican chimichurri since I just love cilantro, but in either case, it’s a win win! 

In my opinion, this sauce is pretty much perfect for everything from your morning eggs to a juicy grilled steak.  I love to use it as a salad dressing, on sandwiches, or an easy marinade for chicken and shrimp.  There won’t be any leftovers when it comes to this sauce, I promise!

Why Eating the Rainbow is So Good For You!

One thing that I always prioritize when doing my meal planning is ensuring there are lots of vegetables in lots of colors each week.  Vegetables are our body’s primary source of bioavailable vitamins, minerals, and fiber.  One reason I love to eat the rainbow is because each color of the rainbow contains different nutrients in varying amounts, so eating a variety ensure you’re getting all you need!  Here I will talk a little about the red, orange and green veggies found in this delicious dish!

Red, Orange, Yellow Veggies (Bell Peppers)

• Vitamin C: Powerful antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables that helps to neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.
• Vitamin A: Fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary in eye health and supports immune and reproductive health [1].
• Vitamin K: Fat-soluble vitamin that is converted to Vitamin K2 in your gut and supports bone and heart health.
• Potassium: Mineral is an electrolyte supporting metabolic pathways, regulates heartbeat, is necessary in normal cell function [2].
• Lycopene: Powerful antioxidant found in higher concentrations in red, orange, and pink foods that helps to neutralize free radicals and supports heart health and blood pressure.

Green Veggies (Zuchinni, Asparagus)

• Vitamin C: Powerful antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables that helps to neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.
• Vitamin B9 (folate): Essential vitamin that supports healthy metabolism, and is key in breaking down homocysteine, and amino acid that is harmful in high concentrations [3].
• Vitamin A: Fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary in eye health and supports immune and reproductive health.
• Vitamin K: Fat-soluble vitamin that is converted to Vitamin K2 in your gut and supports bone and heart health.
• Potassium: Mineral is an electrolyte supporting metabolic pathways, regulates heartbeat, is necessary in normal cell function.
• Magnesium:  Mineral that is essential in healthy metabolism, nervous system regulation, detoxification, and blood sugar regulation.
• Calcium: Essential mineral necessary in building strong healthy bones and supporting a healthy cardiovascular system.
• Iron: Essential in the creation of hemoglobin, supports a healthy digestive tract, and is necessary in immune health.

White Veggies (Onions)

• Vitamin B6: There are many benefits from a diet rich in vitamin B6.  It plays a role in our immune health, metabolism, and brain health.  Vitamin B6 is essential in creating neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which play a role in emotional health and sleep [3].
• Vitamin B9 (folate): Essential vitamin that supports healthy metabolism, and is key in breaking down homocysteine, and amino acid that is harmful in high concentrations.
• Vitamin C: Powerful antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables that helps to neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.
• Potassium: Mineral is an electrolyte supporting metabolic pathways, regulates heartbeat, is necessary in normal cell function.

Fungi (Mushrooms)

Mushrooms are these tasty and versatile little nuggets that just seem to make everything better! They belong to the fungi family and technically are not a vegetable, however, they are nutritious and have several health benefits [1]!

Vitamins

• Vitamin B2: (riboflavin): Converts carbohydrates to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which supports energy production [3].
• Vitamin B3: (niacin): Supports healthy blood fat levels and blood sugars.
• Vitamin B5: Supports metabolic pathways and plays a role in making red blood cells.
• Vitamin B9 (folate): Essential vitamin that supports neural tube development during pregnancy, the production of red blood cells and the production of genetic material [4].
• Vitamin D: Fat soluble vitamin that is necessary in the absorption of calcium, supports healthy bones and teeth, and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties [5].

Minerals

• Copper: Essential mineral in the formation of red blood cells and in supporting cardiovascular health and immune function [6].
• Phosphorus: Supports healthy teeth and bones, muscle recovery after working out, and detoxification.
• Potassium: Plays a role in your body’s hydration and cellular fluid balance, with sodium being the counter balance.
• Selenium: Supports thyroid health [7] and supports your immune system.

Antioxidants

• Mushrooms contain a fiber called beta-glucan.  This fiber has been found to support cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol and is a super food that supports overall health and wellbeing [8]
• Glutathione is a powerhouse antioxidant that is created in the liver and supports the creation of DNA, reducing oxidative stress, detoxification, and so much more [9].

So grab some fresh seasonal produce and let’s get cooking!

Grilled Veggies with Chimichurri Ingredients

Makes 6-10 servings

1 Red Bell Pepper

1 Yellow or Orange Bell Pepper

1 Yellow or Sweet Onion

1-2 Zucchini

1 bunch Asparagus

2-3 Portobello Mushroom Caps

2 Tbsp EVOO or Avocado Oil

1 tsp Fine Sea Salt or Pink Salt

1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper

Authentic Mexican Chimichurri

How to Make Grilled Veggies with Chimichurri

1.  Preheat the grill to 425 degrees

2.  Rinse and dry all the produce except the mushroom caps.

3.  Slice the bell peppers into 1.5″-2″ pieces.

4.  Slice the ends off the zucchini and slice lengthwise in half and then slice in half again making spears.

5.  Cut the stem end off of the onion and peel off the outer layer.  Slice into 1/4″ rounds.

6.  Snap the ends off of the asparagus.

7.  Clean the dirt off the mushroom caps with a mushroom brush or a dry paper towel and slice into 1/4″-1/2″ slices.

8.  Add all the veggie to a large dish or rimmed baking pan and drizzle over the EVOO or avocado oil and sprinkle with the sea salt and black pepper.

9.  Grill for 3-5 minutes per side, rotating once and grilling for another 3-5 minutes until the veggies are tender.

10.  Remove and replace back onto the large dish and top with homemade chimichurri sauce!

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FAQs

Q: Can I grill the veggies in a skillet on the grill?

A: Yes, but you will miss out on that lovely char you get from grilling directly on the grates.

Q: What could I substitute in for the grilled asparagus?

A: The world is your oyster and honestly, pick was is seasonal, fresh, looks amazing and ignites your tastebuds: broccoli, summer squash, tuscan kale, Swiss chard…

Q: Can I grill baby portobello mushrooms if I can’t find the portobello caps?

A: Yes, just don’t cut the creminis them too small so they don’t fall through the grates.

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