Zhoug Sauce – A Spicy Middle Eastern Cilantro Sauce
Zhoug sauce is one of those condiments I wish I had discovered earlier. It's spicy, cilantro-based, easy and quick to make, and most likely originated in Yemen.
Servings: 1.25 cups
Calories: 822kcal
Ingredients
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup cilantro
- 1 cup parsley
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 jalapeños
- 2 serranos (or other hot pepper of your choice)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon cardamom
- ½ teaspoon hot pepper flakes
Instructions
- Take out your food processor and add all roughly chopped ingredients and spices.
- Blend to your preferred consistency.
- Serve over everything!
Notes
- Food processor or mortar and pestle: If you want to make a quick and smooth Zhoug sauce, a food processor will do the trick. But sometimes, it's just so satisfying to use a mortar and pestle to feel and smell how it all comes together. Regardless of which "grinder" you’re using, taste, taste, taste. Herb and hot pepper-based sauces can sometimes taste a little bitter or too spicy right after being blended. It can take up to an hour for the herbs to fully absorb the spices and heat via the olive oil. Just transfer the sauce to a dish and stick it into the refrigerator for an hour or so before serving.
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What to use zhoug sauce for
- Put it on everything that comes off the grill (fish, meats, vegetables)
- Add it to deviled and scrambled eggs
- Spice up a plain yogurt
- Mediterranean-ize Taco Tuesday
- My favorite: add it to a pepperoni and cheese pizza
- How to store zhoug: Zhoug will stay perfect for about four days in the fridge in an airtight container. If (and you will) want to make a huge batch, divide it into small sandwich baggies and freeze individually. Now you can enjoy this fantastic, spicy, refreshing sauce all summer long.
- Variation: Adding some mint adds an additional tasty "herb level" to this Zhoug sauce.
- Suggestion: If you enjoy this, you're gonna love our chimichurri!
Nutrition
Calories: 822kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 88g | Sodium: 1914mg | Potassium: 523mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 5497IU | Vitamin C: 103mg | Calcium: 122mg