Zhoug is one of the best ways to decorate up your favourite meats, veggies, and dips! Make do-it-yourself zhoug sauce with the simplest elements, together with recent jalapeño, cilantro, parsley, garlic, olive oil, and spices. You’ll need to put it on every part!
Should you’re a fan of Peruvian inexperienced sauce, likelihood is good you’ll love zhoug. I exploit this spicy cilantro sauce so as to add a great deal of taste to every part from salmon to rooster shawarma, and as a dressing for falafel.

We’re about to zhuzh issues up with vibrant, flavor-packed Zhoug sauce. Zhoug, schug, or zhug, is a flexible do-it-yourself condiment, and it’s one in all my must-haves within the fridge on any given day. Originating within the Center East, Zhoug is a scrumptious spicy cilantro sauce constituted of a mix of peppers, garlic, recent herbs, and spices. I’ll present you the right way to make it with a handful of elements in your blender!
Causes to Make Zhoug (Spicy Cilantro Sauce)
- It’s fast and simple. All that you must make it’s a few easy-to-find elements 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 recent herbs and spices. It goes properly with something and every part.
- Preserve leftovers for days. When you’ve tasted zhoug, I simply know you’ll discover all types of the way to make use of it, from marinating rooster to dressing roasted greens. Leftovers retailer properly within the fridge or freezer, so you can also make a double batch whilst you have the blender out.


Zhoug Sauce Substances
The magic of zhoug comes down to some choose recent herbs and a handful of savory spices that give it its distinctive, advanced taste. I cowl those I exploit to make mine under! You’ll discover the total recipe with the printable quantities within the recipe card after the put up, adopted by step-by-step images.
- Jalapeño – I exploit jalapeño peppers as they’re simple to search out. You possibly can adapt the warmth degree 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 might additionally substitute white or purple wine vinegar.
- Spices – Floor cumin, coriander, cardamom, purple 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 filled with advanced flavors from mildly spicy jalapeños, vibrant, citrusy lemon and garlic, earthy cumin, and candy, natural cardamom. Lots is happening, in the absolute best means! It’s what makes this sauce so superb and so versatile. Plus, in the event 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 primary 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 comprise mint.
Methods to Use Zhoug Sauce
Zhoug is actually 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 just some 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 additional olive oil and toss your zhoug with a recent inexperienced Mediterranean salad or use it as a dressing for tabbouleh or couscous.
- Topping. I exploit 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 elements. Place every part besides the olive oil within the bowl of a meals processor. Pulse till every part 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 means of the highest of the lid. (By way of 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 a number of extra occasions till a thick sauce is fashioned.
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Season to style. Style and regulate the seasonings if wanted. You possibly can add extra salt in order for you it saltier, extra purple pepper flakes in order for you 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 information is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might differ based on the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
The right way to Make Zhoug
Similar to getting ready do-it-yourself pesto sauce or blender Hollandaise, making zhoug is simple to do in your meals processor:




- Mix the elements. Add all your zhoug elements to a blender or meals processor, aside from the olive oil. Pulse a number of occasions 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 possibly can all the time add extra, however you’ll be able to’t take it away! Once you’re completely happy together with your zhoug, serve it instantly or retailer it for later, see under.
Storage Directions
- Refrigerate. You possibly can serve zhoug sauce instantly or hold 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.