Forget the gravy; give me chimichurri!

Pedro's brother Sebastian is preparing prime rib for Christmas dinner and instead of gravy he's making a red and green chimichurri sauce (I believe at my suggestion after seeing it on a PBS program this morning in Minneapolis. I love that the Maiz brothers are up for any challenge - though the green chimichurri captured below is one that Sebastian regularly makes :)

Let's start with the red version. Simmer finely diced onion (maybe shallots next time) with olive oil and saffron. Let it cool. Add half cup of chopped parsley, 1 garlic clove, one tbsp of paprika, 3 tbsp of sherry, pinch of cayenne, and salt to taste to a mortar and pestle. Add this paste as the base to a bowl and slowly mix in about a half cup of olive oil along with the simmered onions. Smokey and delicious!

Now for the green sauce (get it? They're Christmas colors!) Add to a mortar and pestle salt to taste, one 1 clove of garlic, chile flakes, 1 part parsley, half a part cilantro, a quarter part fresh oregano, couple tbsp of finely chopped shallot and sherry vinegar to taste. Add fresh lemon to the paste in the mortar and pestle, and then transfer it to a bowl and slowly incorporate olive oil. So much better than gravy!