Food

A store cupboard spicy, piquant, herby sauce for grilled meat or veg

Shelf Help: You could also spread it on a sandwich, stir it into creme fraiche or cream cheese, or use it as a marinade

Gran Grans Foods' Chimichurri.

Marie Claire Digby's face
Marie Claire Digby
Tue Sep 5 2023 - 05:00

What is it? Gran Grans Foods’ Chimichurri Sauce (€4.50/200g).

Who makes it? It is one of a range of products made by Galway couple Nigel and Magaly Murray. Magaly is from Peru, and together they opened that country’s first Irish pub, Murphy’s, in Lima. They returned to Ireland in 2005 and Nigel, a chef, worked at the Ardilaun hotel and at Glenlo Abbey before they set up Gran Gran’s Foods in 2014. In 2021 they took over a premises in Kilcolgan village and established their headquarters there.

What’s good about it? The first ingredient listed is extra virgin olive oil, not a cheaper alternative, which is a good sign of quality. The remaining ingredients are garlic, fresh coriander and parsley, red onion, white vinegar, fresh chilli and salt. Considering you need a big bunch of fresh herbs, along with garlic and red chillies to make chimichurri, this is a handy store cupboard substitute.

How do I use it? There are lovely Irish beef steaks in the fridge for dinner, and I’d love something light and bright and tasty to go along with it, but I don’t have any fresh herbs. Time to crack open a jar of this stuff. Give it a shake and you’re good to go. I added a squeeze of lemon juice to ramp up the freshness and a drop of red wine vinegar because I like it sharp. It would also be good on a sandwich, stirred into creme fraiche or cream cheese for a dip, or used as a marinade.

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Where can I get it? It is stocked in specialist food stores, full list at grangransfoods.ie, where you can also buy online. Free delivery on orders over €50.

Send your Shelf Help product suggestions to marieclaire.digby@irishtimes.com

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