Zhoug is the easiest way to decorate up your favourite meats, veggies, and dips! Make selfmade zhoug sauce with the simplest substances, together with contemporary jalapeño, cilantro, parsley, garlic, olive oil, and spices. You’ll wish to put it on the whole lot!
In case you’re a fan of Peruvian inexperienced sauce, likelihood is good you’ll love zhoug. I take advantage of this spicy cilantro sauce so as to add a great deal of taste to the whole lot from salmon to rooster shawarma, and as a dressing for falafel.

We’re about to zhuzh issues up with shiny, flavor-packed Zhoug sauce. Zhoug, schug, or zhug, is a flexible selfmade condiment, and it’s one in every of my must-haves within the fridge on any given day. Originating within the Center East, Zhoug is a scrumptious spicy cilantro sauce made out of a mix of peppers, garlic, contemporary herbs, and spices. I’ll present you easy methods to make it with a handful of substances in your blender!
Causes to Make Zhoug (Spicy Cilantro Sauce)
- It’s fast and straightforward. All it is advisable make it’s a few easy-to-find substances and your blender or meals processor. It’s prepared to make use of in minutes.
- A lot taste! There’s nothing fairly like Zhoug sauce. It’s somewhat spicy (with the choice to adapt), somewhat savory, with a mouthwatering mixture of contemporary herbs and spices. It goes nicely with something and the whole lot.
- Preserve leftovers for days. When you’ve tasted zhoug, I simply know you’ll discover all kinds of how to make use of it, from marinating rooster to dressing roasted greens. Leftovers retailer nicely within the fridge or freezer, so you may make a double batch when you have the blender out.


Zhoug Sauce Substances
The magic of zhoug comes down to some choose contemporary herbs and a handful of savory spices that give it its distinctive, complicated taste. I cowl those I take advantage of to make mine under! You’ll discover the total recipe with the printable quantities within the recipe card after the publish, adopted by step-by-step photographs.
- Jalapeño – I take advantage of jalapeño peppers as they’re simple to search out. You’ll be able to adapt the warmth stage of your zhoug sauce with hotter peppers, like habanero. Deseed the peppers to tame the warmth somewhat.
- Garlic – Contemporary cloves are finest right here. In any other case, substitute ½ teaspoon of garlic paste per clove.
- Contemporary Herbs – Freshly chopped cilantro and parsley.
- Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed lemon is finest, however bottled lemon juice works in a pinch. You can additionally substitute white or crimson wine vinegar.
- Spices – Floor cumin, coriander, cardamom, crimson pepper flakes, and salt.
- Olive Oil – I like to recommend a good-quality olive oil as you’ll style the distinction. Avocado oil is an effective substitute.
What Does It Style Like?
Zhoug is full of complicated flavors from mildly spicy jalapeños, shiny, citrusy lemon and garlic, earthy cumin, and candy, natural cardamom. So much is happening, in the very best manner! It’s what makes this sauce so wonderful and so versatile. Plus, should you make it at residence, you’ll be able to adapt the salt, spice, and different flavors to style.


Zhoug vs. Chimichurri
Chimichurri is the Argentinian reply to Zhoug sauce. The principle distinction between the 2 inexperienced sauces is that chimichurri makes use of a mix of parsley, garlic, and oregano. In the meantime, Zhoug is heavy on cilantro. You’ll discover different variations, like Moroccan zhoug, that additionally include mint.
Methods to Use Zhoug Sauce
Zhoug is absolutely an all-around condiment. I wish to drizzle it over dips like hummus, or stir it into Macedonian taratur (much like tzatziki) for a spicy kick. These are only a few different simple concepts:
- Marinade. Use Zhoug sauce to marinate your favourite proteins, like rooster or beef.
- Dipping sauce. Serve this spicy inexperienced sauce alone or blended into yogurt as a zippy dipping sauce for rooster skewers, juicy rooster bites, or salmon bites.
- Salad dressing. Add somewhat further olive oil and toss your zhoug with a contemporary inexperienced Mediterranean salad or use it as a dressing for tabbouleh or couscous.
- Topping. I take advantage of Zhoug sauce as a topping over salmon filets or rooster tagine, or I’ll serve it over grilled meats, like flank steak. It’s even nice drizzled over my household’s favourite Macedonian fried pork pizza.
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Mix the substances. Place the whole lot besides the olive oil within the bowl of a meals processor. Pulse till the whole lot is chopped and beginning to come collectively.
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Add olive oil. With the meals processor operating, pour the olive oil in by the highest of the lid. (Via the opening the place you’ll be able to add liquid whereas the meals processor is operating.) As soon as all of the olive oil has been added, flip off the meals processor.
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Scrape the bowl. Scrape down the edges and pulse just a few extra instances till a thick sauce is shaped.
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Season to style. Style and regulate the seasonings if wanted. You’ll be able to add extra salt if you’d like it saltier, extra crimson pepper flakes if you’d like it spicier. Add these changes 1/4 teaspoon at a time, mixing between additions, till you obtain your required taste.
Energy: 87kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.4g | Fats: 9g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 7g | Sodium: 199mg | Potassium: 60mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 589IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg
Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might differ in response to the substances and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
Learn how to Make Zhoug
Identical to getting ready selfmade pesto sauce or blender Hollandaise, making zhoug is straightforward to do in your meals processor:




- Mix the substances. Add all your zhoug substances to a blender or meals processor, other than the olive oil. Pulse just a few instances so the combination comes collectively.
- Add oil. Preserve the processor operating and stream within the olive oil. As soon as that’s added, change off the meals processor and scrape down the edges earlier than pulsing once more.
- Alter for seasonings. Style the sauce and regulate your seasonings to style. I like to recommend including somewhat at a time, mixing in between. You’ll be able to at all times add extra, however you’ll be able to’t take it away! Once you’re comfortable along with your zhoug, serve it instantly or retailer it for later, see under.
Storage Directions
- Refrigerate. You’ll be able to serve zhoug sauce instantly or preserve it saved in an hermetic jar or container. To assist keep its freshness, pour a skinny layer of olive oil over the zhoug earlier than you seal the lid. It lasts for 5-7 days within the fridge.
- Freeze. Sure, you’ll be able to freeze zhoug! Freeze it in a freezer-safe container for as much as 6 months and thaw it within the fridge once you’re prepared to make use of it.