Zhoug (Spicy Sauce)

If you like spicy to mild sauce, you must try this delicious Middle Eastern sauce. I add this sauce to everything I cook. Add it to your sandwiches, rice, falafel, hummus, or pizza. It adds an amazing flavor and taste to your meals. I confess that I am addicted to this.

After multiple trials, I was finally able to get to the desirable taste. It is quick and easy but you will have to follow the steps I will outline carefully so that you get to the great delicious taste of the sauce.

Serving for 4 people 

Time to make: 10 mins

To start making this recipe, you will need the following: 

  • 1 bunch of cilantro 
  • 3 Jalapeno or penam peppers (add Chili flakes if Jalapeno is not spicy enough) 
  • 1/4 cup of Olive Oil (I am using the Greek Oil in the picture)
  • 1/2 tbsp of each: ground black pepper, sea salt, cardamom and cumin powder. (seed is cool too) 
  • Garlic, 1 glove (recommended, but not required) 
  • A blender 

Instructions:

Carefully remove cilantro stems from the bunch and place in the blender. Add the salt, black pepper, cumin, garlic, and cardamom. For the Jalapeno, ensure that you remove the seeds from it and set aside (you can add some of the seed to the mix but that depends on how spicy you would like it to be). Sometimes, the Jalapeno are no spicy enough. In this case, I adds chili flakes, about 1/2 tsp.  

Add the olive oil and blend. For Olive oil, you can add flavored olive oil and explore the taste. I used Jalapeno flavored oil and basil flavored olive oil in my past experiment with the recipe. Each trial will give you a different taste. In this recipe, I used an olive oil that I bought from Corfu during my visit to Greece. You can also but it from this store

Feel free to add more olive oil if the cilantro is not blending well or little water to it. Taste it and see if it is spicy enough. If not, add some Jalapeno seeds or flakes to it and taste again. Repeat till you feel the right level. 

You can serve it right away or you can store it in a refrigerator but ensure to consume within two days. 

 

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