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5.0 from 42 votes

Zhug Recipe (Yemenite Green Hot Sauce with Chili Peppers, Herbs and Oil)

Zhug is a spicy green hot sauce from Yemen made with chili peppers, fresh green herbs and lots of aromatic seasoning. Here is the recipe. Great as a finishing sauce or a condiment.

Prep Time
9 mins
Cook Time
9 mins
Total Time
10 mins
Servings: 10
Calories: 103 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Condiments
Cuisine: American , Middle Eastern

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon coriander seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cardamom seeds
  • salt to taste I use about a teaspoon
  • 1 cup loosely packed cilantro
  • 1 cup loosely packed parsley
  • 5-6 Serrano peppers chopped
  • 4-5 dried chiles de arbol coarsely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic crushed
  • Juice from 1 lemon about 2-3 tablespoons
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Grind the peppercorns, cumin seeds, coriander seeds and cardamom seeds in a mortar and pestal into a coarse powder. Alternatively, you can start with powdered versions of these ingredients. Add them to a food processor along with the salt.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients except for the olive oil to the food processor and pulse until the ingredients are chunky but combined. Do not overprocess or you’ll lose the desireable texture.
  3. Drizzle in the olive oil and pulse/process until the oil is emulsified and the remaining sauce is thick and chunky.
  4. Adjust for salt and use as needed.

Notes

  • Makes about 1.5 cups. 
  • Heat Level: Medium-Hot, because of the use of serrano peppers. You can easily dial back the heat by using milder peppers.
  • Store your zhug in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep a couple weeks easily.

Nutrition Information

Calories 103kcal (5%) Carbohydrates 1g (0%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Sodium 5mg (0%) Potassium 65mg (2%) Vitamin A 695IU (14%) Vitamin C 10.1mg (11%) Calcium 13mg (1%) Iron 0.6mg (3%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 103

% Daily Value*

Calories 103kcal 5%
Carbohydrates 1g 0%
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Potassium 65mg 1%
Vitamin A 695IU 14%
Vitamin C 10.1mg 11%
Calcium 13mg 1%
Iron 0.6mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.