Zhoug (Middle Eastern Condiment)
Zhoug is a delicious Middle Eastern condiment: vibrant green in color; herby, spicy and oily in taste. Zhoug has a kick. If you like to add additional flavors and heat to your food, then this recipe is for you. This homemade zhoug recipe is primarily made with fresh produce. It’s a much healthier option compared to what we find on shelves in grocery stores. And this recipe is not time consuming, either. It only requires chopping some veggies and then blending them with some seasonings.
This recipe is inspired by a condiment that I tasted at a Mediterranean restaurant in Minneapolis. It was so good that my husband and I could not stop thinking about it. We went back to that restaurant many times and bought that sauce again and again. Sadly, they did not survive during the pandemic and went out of business; it was heartbreaking. I tried many other Middle Eastern restaurants and never found the delicious flavor of that sauce again. Recently, I started to crave that zhoug and created this recipe from my memory of its flavor profile. And based upon my husband’s reaction after tasting it, I think I nailed it.
I enjoy zhoug with falafels, Moroccan stuffed eggplant, pesto, harissa, roasted red pepper hummus or smoky sun-dried tomato hummus, and zesty garlic couscous. But it can be added to wraps, sandwiches, salads, rice bowls, grilled food and more. A drizzle of zhoug tastes great on pretty much anything.
I encourage you to share your experience in the comments below if you tried this Zhoug recipe or made it differently. If you took a photo, please share with me on my instagram account ‘zesty_zahra’ and I will share your stories there. I am always happy to learn about people’s food choices and preferences!
Zhoug (Middle Eastern Condiment)
Ingredients
- 6 Jalapeño chopped
- 2 oz Cilantro chopped
- 1 oz Parsley chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic
- ½ tsp Cumin Powder
- ½ tsp Coriander Powder
- ¼ tsp Cardamom
- ½ tsp Salt or to taste
- ½ tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
- ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Instructions
- In a food processor, add jalapeño, cilantro, parsley, garlic, cumin, coriander, cardamom and salt. Blend together well.
- Transfer contents into a bowl and stir in red pepper flakes, lemon juice and olive oil.