Gremolata | The Modern Proper (2024)

October 7, 2022

Vibrant and full of flavor, our take on homemade gremolata is one of those make-everyday type of recipes. We know you’ll be putting it on everything once you try it!

Photography by Gayle McLeod

It’s Here! Our Gremolata Recipe Has Officially Arrived

A classic, Italian recipe that will liven up any dish, gremolata is a great addition to your repertoire. This bold and bright condiment is a simple recipe, made with a few ingredients, mixed together in a bowl. No crazy gizmos or gadgets needed for this one! Not only is it easy to make, it can also be spread, dipped, dolloped, and mixed in with nearly anything to add some extra oomph to your plate.

What Is Gremolata?

Gremolata is a standard condiment in Italian kitchens. This sauce is incredibly quick and easy to whip up using ingredients that you might even have on hand. Gremolata originated in Milan to accompany the classic Milanese veal dish, osso buco. Once word got out that gremolata uses extended beyond just veal, it became a standard sauce for many a meal, snack, or side dish. It’s great on anything from grilled meats and roasted vegetables, to fresh salads and even scrambled eggs.

Gremolata vs Chimichurri vs Pesto

Herbed sauces to finish off a meal are definitely a go-to in our households. We are big on the sauce game, and this gremolata recipe is no exception. It may seem similar to a chimichurri or a pesto, but what makes this sauce stand out from the rest is its simplicity. Chimichurri originated in Argentina, and in addition to the standard garlic, lemon, parsley combination, red wine vinegar is added. Pesto, another famous Italian sauce, calls for a base of basil and pine nuts. Gremolata truly is a simple Italian classic we’re happy to bring into our recipe box to punch up the flavor of any meal.

How to Make an Insanely Good Herb Gremolata

There are three key ingredients you will find in any variation of this sauce. They balance each other out to make this sauce what it is: mouth-wateringly good.

• Garlic: Garlic will add complexity to your sauce. Since this recipe calls for raw garlic, make sure it is as fresh as possible. Sprouted, yellowed, browned, or even jarred versions of garlic will not give you the flavor you want when making this recipe.

• Lemon: The zest is typical for this recipe, but our recipe also calls for the bright, acid flavor of lemon juice. When zesting, make sure you only remove the outer layer of the lemon and not the white pithy part beneath. The top, yellow layer is where the bright citrus flavor comes from.

• Parsley: Flat-leaf parsley is what you are looking for to round out this dish. Since gremolata is made by mixing the ingredients in a bowl rather than in a food processor or blender, make sure the parsley is washed AND dried very well before chopping. Chopping wet parsley will ultimately lead to a wet purée rather than the fine, chopped texture that this sauce calls for.

The best part of this recipe? You can truly make it your own! Gremolata variations are quite versatile and we’ve added mint to bring in a little brightness, and a dash of red pepper flakes for a little kick. With some olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, you've got yourself the best homemade gremolata sauce to share with everyone!

Tools You’ll Need

• Sharp knife

• Microplane grater

• Small bowl

Let’s Get Saucy

Well, what do you use gremolata for? We have some ideas!

• Serve it atop our Osso Buco for a classic Italian combination.

• Spread it on top of Lamb Pie for an epic finishing touch.

• Use the gremolata sauce to level up our Baked Salmon.

• Dollop a few spoonfuls in some Vegetable Soup for an elevated comfort meal.

• Mix it in our Classic Creamy Hummus to create a truly inventive hummus.

Once you’ve perfected this herb gremolata, we have some other great sauce ideas to try:

• Romesco Sauce

• Chimichurri Sauce

• Tahini Sauce

However You Use This Gremolata Recipe, We Want To See!

We can’t stop putting gremolata on everything in our kitchen. Seriously, it’s that good. Show us how you use it by sharing and tagging us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!