Elevate your culinary creations with Zhug, a bold and vibrant Middle Eastern-inspired green chili sauce that packs a flavorful punch. Made with fresh cilantro, parsley, and zesty green chili peppers, this condiment is infused with aromatic spices like cumin, coriander, and cardamom, complemented by garlic and a splash of fresh lemon juice for brightness. Rich olive oil brings it all together, creating a luscious, pesto-like paste perfect for drizzling over grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or scooping onto warm pita bread. Ready in just 15 minutes with no cooking required, this spicy and aromatic recipe is a must-have for anyone looking to add a fiery, herbal twist to their meals. Store it in the fridge and enjoy its bold flavors for up to two weeks—your taste buds will thank you! Keywords: zhug recipe, Middle Eastern sauce, green chili condiment, spicy cilantro parsley sauce.
Thoroughly wash the cilantro and parsley bunches under cold water. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.
Remove the stems from the cilantro and parsley, keeping only the leaves. It's fine if a few tender stems remain attached to the leaves.
Chop the green chili peppers roughly. If you prefer a milder zhug, deseed the chili peppers before chopping.
Peel the garlic cloves and cut each into smaller pieces to ease blending.
Place the cilantro leaves, parsley leaves, chopped chili peppers, and garlic pieces into a food processor.
Add the ground cumin, ground coriander, ground cardamom, and salt into the food processor.
Pulse the food processor a few times to break down the leaves and ingredients into smaller pieces.
Add the fresh lemon juice to the mixture in the food processor.
With the food processor running, slowly drizzle the olive oil into the mixture until everything is well combined and a paste-like consistency is achieved.
Taste the zhug and adjust the salt or lemon juice according to your preference.
Transfer the zhug to a jar or airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Calories |
1189 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 114.9 g | 147% | |
| Saturated Fat | 17.7 g | 88% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 10.6 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 2467 mg | 107% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 36.5 g | 13% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 12.4 g | 44% | |
| Total Sugars | 13.7 g | ||
| Protein | 9.1 g | 18% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 243 mg | 19% | |
| Iron | 10.6 mg | 59% | |
| Potassium | 1705 mg | 36% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.