Gremolata

Gremolata is a savory Italian condiment of parsley, garlic, and lemon zest. In Italy, it's used to elevate savory dishes, giving them a bitter tang.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated July 30, 2022
Elise Bauer
Italian Gremolata
Elise Bauer

Gremolata. This is one of my favorite condiments!

Parsley, garlic, and lemon zest—the most basic of ingredients, yet together, they are cymbals in the food orchestra. Noisy alone, but perfect to accentuate a lamb stew or veal osso buco.

Gremolata ingredients
Elise Bauer

Just as you are easing into a savory, meaty bite, the slightly bitter tang of the gremolata will wake up your senses. A little sprinkle of gremolata is sometimes all that you need to take a dish from good to great.

Scatter it over vegetables, lamb, pork, chicken, or veal. Or even over some pasta with butter and parmesan.

Origins of Gremolata

Gremolata is an important seasoning used in Italian cooking in dishes. It's versatile and adds a punch of flavor to savory dishes. It most likely originated around Milan to accompany osso buco.

It's also used on brined pork chops, lamb shanks with butternut squash, and lamb shank stew.

More Sauce and Relish Recipes to Serve With Meat

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Gremolata

Prep Time 7 mins
Total Time 7 mins
Servings 4
Yield 1/4 cup

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley leaves

  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest

  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed and minced (about 2 teaspoons)

Method

  1. Toss all the ingredients together:

    Mince the parsley and garlic, grate the lemon zest, and toss all together in a small bowl with a fork.

  2. Serve:

    Sprinkle over pork, lamb, or veal. It's especially good with osso buco.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
4 Calories
0g Fat
1g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 4
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 5mg 25%
Calcium 7mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 19mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.