Zhug

Zhug, a fiery green sauce hailing from the heart of Middle Eastern cuisine, is a bold and herbaceous blend of fresh cilantro, parsley, green chilies, and garlic. Elevated with the warm, earthy notes of cumin, coriander, and cardamom, this Yemeni-inspired condiment offers a vibrant kick that's irresistibly addictive. A splash of fresh lemon juice brightens its flavor, while silky olive oil brings it all together into a lush, spoonable paste. Ready in just 15 minutes with no cooking required, zhug is the perfect accompaniment to grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or pita bread, and it even doubles as a zesty marinade or sandwich spread. Add some spice to your meals with this easy-to-make, refrigerator-friendly gem!

Nutriscore Rating: 61/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:15 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 bunch fresh cilantro
• 1 bunch fresh parsley
• 5 pieces green chili peppers
• 6 pieces cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 0.5 cup olive oil

Directions

Step 1

Thoroughly wash the cilantro and parsley bunches under cold water. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

Chop the green chili peppers roughly. If you prefer a milder zhug, deseed the chili peppers before chopping.

Step 4

Peel the garlic cloves and cut each into smaller pieces to ease blending.

Step 5

Place the cilantro leaves, parsley leaves, chopped chili peppers, and garlic pieces into a food processor.

Step 6

Add the ground cumin, ground coriander, ground cardamom, and salt into the food processor.

Step 7

Pulse the food processor a few times to break down the leaves and ingredients into smaller pieces.

Step 8

Add the fresh lemon juice to the mixture in the food processor.

Step 9

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.

Step 10

Taste the zhug and adjust the salt or lemon juice according to your preference.

Step 11

Transfer the zhug to a jar or airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	507.3 grams (507.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1189

Total Fat 114.90g	147%
Saturated Fat 17.70g	89%
Polyunsaturated Fat 10.60g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2467mg	107%
Total Carbohydrate 36.50g	13%
Dietary Fiber 12.40g	44%
Total Sugars 13.70g
Protein 9.10g	18%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 243mg	19%
Iron 11mg	59%
Potassium 1705mg	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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 85.0%

Protein: 3.0%

Carbs: 12.0%