Salsa Gremolata

By Kyrie Luke

Salsa gremolata is a sauce used for pasta dishes, vegetables, seafood, steak, and other meats to add robust and fresh flavor. Take your meals up a notch by whipping up a batch of salsa gremolata – it only takes 5 minutes!

Related: Steak Arugula Salad with Salsa Gremolata

Related: Tomato Mascarpone Pasta Sauce

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What is Salsa Gremolata

Salsa gremolata is an Italian sauce using fresh ingredients like herbs, lemon juice, and olive oil to create a delicious flavor enhancer for any dish. Gremolata adds beautiful color, flavor, and texture to pasta and meat dishes.

Gremolatas take on many variations. This recipe uses just 6 ingredients to create a tangy, refreshing flavor.

Equipment You’ll Need

Blender, immersion blender, or food processor (optional) – I show you a method for blending as well as hand chopping and mixing.

Recipe Highlights

5-minute recipe – It takes just 5 minutes to add fresh and flavorful ingredients to your meal using this gremolata recipe.

Fresh and colorful flavors – The flavor of salsa gremolata is tangy, refreshing, and bursting with flavor. It’s so easy to add a pop of color and flavor to your meals.

Flexible process for making gremolata – I show you two methods for making gremolata, each only take about 5 minutes. One uses a basic knife for chopping, and one uses an immersion blender.

Can use for basically any meat, seafood pasta or vegetable dish – I’ve topped steak, salmon, and pasta with this exact salsa gremolata recipe and it was absolutely delicious on all of them!

How to Make Salsa Gremolata

Salsa gremolata is a tangy, refreshing condiment to add to any dish whether you’re cooking seafood, steak or pasta! It’s very versatile in how you make and use it.

Salsa Gremolata Ingredients

Capers – Rather than using the traditional pine nuts to add the chunk to gremolata, I use capers which offer fabulous texture and delicious tang.

Basil – Fresh basil gives a powerful flavor to this condiment.

Parsley – I like to use flat-leaf Italian parsley – but any type will work.

Garlic – Any great dish has some garlic, am I right?

Olive oil – Use good quality olive oil for the best flavor.

Lemon – You’re using the juice and the zest, so buying organic is best. The zest adds even more flavor and gorgeous color.

Step by Step Instructions (with photos)

Blender Method:

• Place all the ingredients into the base of a blender, or food processor and blend until coarsely combined.

• Check the consistency, if you want it runnier, add more olive oil.

Hand-chopping Method:

• Prepare your salsa gremolata by chopping and mincing all the ingredients. Then toss them in a bowl.

• Zest your lemon overtop the bowl and then squeeze the lemon juice over that.

• Pour the olive oil into the bowl.

• Use a fork to combine everything.

• Check the consistency, if you want it runnier, add more olive oil.

How to Store Salsa Gremolata

Store your salsa gremolata in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.

In a Pinch Ideas

Using a food processor – this shaves just a bit of time since you can just toss all the ingredients in the blender and blend.

Salsa Gremolata Tips

Blender method vs. Hand chopping – Hand chopping will give you a courser texture and brighter color. However, using the blender will give you more of a “sauce-like” result.

Let it marinate – If time is on your side, make the gremolata and let it sit for about 30 minutes before using – this helps the flavors to develop.

Organic lemon – Most citrus fruits have pesticides that reside on the peel. This usually isn’t an issue when you’re just using the juice, but anytime you’re zesting and using the peel of citrus, go organic.

How to Make Salsa Gremolata Healthier

Salsa gremolata is already a healthy Italian condiment. It uses fresh, whole foods that are rich in nutrients.

To make your gremolata as healthy as possible, be sure to use good quality olive oil and organic lemon.

Salsa Gremolata Serving Suggestions

• Steak Arugula Salad
• Burrata Bruschetta Italiana
• Any type of Pasta Dishes
• Seafood – we love this on salmon and shrimp!
• Roasted Vegetables – try my roasted asparagus and brussels sprouts with dates and bacon!
• Top Roasted Avocados
• Garnish any type of meat – red meat and chicken are delicious topped with this salsa gremolata.
• Dip crusty bread – gremolata is so good when you dip my roasted garlic sourdough bread into it!

Salsa Gremolata Substitutions Types

Mint – Using mint as one of the fresh herbs adds a delicious spin.

Orange Zest – Replacing lemon juice and zest with orange is fun too!

Nuts – pine nuts are traditional, but you could really go any route here.

Anchovy – think of a traditional Ceasar dressing – that’s the vibe this will give your gremolata.

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• Berkey water filter (we use the Royal because we drink an insane amount of water!)

• Thrive Market – 25% off & free gift! (where I get a ton of my ingredients)
• Azure Standard: $25 off your order. Code kyrieluke1
• Dutch oven
• Stand mixer
• Boos Block Butcher Block
• 12 inch Cast Iron Skillet

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