Lemony salsa verde with a summery touch of fresh tarragon.
Salsa Verde with Tarragon and Chervil
If chervil is difficult to find, a mixture of extra tarragon and parsley is a fine substitute. Salsa verde means “green sauce” in both Italian and Spanish. In this version, fresh tarragon gives the salsa a nice summery quality. The salsa verde also goes well with grilled fish like swordfish or tuna steaks, as well as in sandwiches or swirled into soups. If chervil proves difficult to find, a mixture of extra tarragon and parsley is a fine substitute.
Ingredients
- 1 medium red onion or equivallent shallots, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- Salt
- 2 tbsp salted capers (optional)
- ¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- ½ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- ½ cup chopped chervil
- ¼ cup chopped tarragon
- ¼ cup minced chives
- Freshly ground pepper
Directions
- In a small bowl, combine the chopped red onion with the vinegar and a pinch of salt. Let stand for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, cover the capers with warm water and let stand for 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the capers to a work surface and finely chop them.
- In a medium bowl, combine the olive oil with the lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, parsley, chervil, tarragon and chives. Drain the onion, squeezing out any excess vinegar, and add to the bowl along with the capers. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. Let the salsa verde stand for at least 1 hour before serving.
- The salsa verde can be refrigerated covered overnight. Bring the salsa to room temperature before serving, or serve lightly chilled.
- You can substitute other herbs in place of ones you don’t currently have.