Authentic Zhoug Sauce Recipe Zhug Recipes

HOW TO MAKE SCHUG (SKUG, ZHUG, ZHOUG) SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small skillet, toast the cumin and coriander seeds until they smell fragrant and have turned a shade darker in color. Transfer to a spice grinder or crush with a mortar and pestle.
• Put the chilies and garlic in a food processor and pulse a few times until they are fairly fine. Add the cilantro, parsley, lemon zest, reserved toasted spiced, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and a few twists of black pepper. Pulse until all is finely chopped into a rough purée. With the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil. Stop the processor before the sauce is completely blended and smooth-you want some texture. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with another 1/2 teaspoon salt (I always do), and pepper and lemon to taste.

ZHOUG! (SPICY CILANTRO SAUCE)

Steps:

• Place the garlic in your food processor and process until the garlic is broken into tiny pieces.
• Add the cilantro, jalapeño (keep the seeds in case you want to make the sauce more spicy after tasting), salt, cardamom, cumin and red pepper flakes. Process until the mixture is all mixed together and very finely chopped.
• While running the food processor, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Scrape down the sides and blend until the sauce is mostly smooth.
• Adjust to taste-for a spicier sauce, add the jalapeño seeds or additional red pepper flakes (1/4 teaspoon at a time) and blend again. Too bitter? You can add more salt or give the flavors some time to mellow. This sauce's flavor transforms with time, so if it's too spicy or you just don't love it right off the bat, let it chill in the fridge and try it again in an hour.

ZHOUG CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x9-inch baking dish with olive oil.
• Measure 1/2 cup of prepared zhoug and spread over the bottom of the oiled baking dish. Place chicken thighs, cut side down, on top of the zhoug. Sprinkle fire-roasted bell peppers over chicken thighs. Using a spoon, drop remaining zhoug sauce in between the bell pepper pieces, covering as much of the chicken thighs as possible.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

ZHUG

Steps:

• Wash and dry the parsley and cilantro.
• Combine parsley, cilantro, garlic, lemon juice and zest, chiles, cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, ice, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a food processor fitted with a blade. Blend until a smooth paste is achieved, adding more oil as necessary.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.

RED ZHOUG

Steps:

• Add the oil to a large sauté pan and place on the stove over high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the bell peppers and chiles and fry while continuously stirring for about 10 minutes, until the peppers start to blister and darken in color. If at any time the peppers start to burn, decrease the heat slightly.
• Remove the peppers and chiles from the oil, set aside, and let cool. Add the cooled fried peppers and chiles and the paprika, turmeric, cloves, cardamom, cumin, salt, garlic, and lemon juice to a food processor and blend, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula when necessary, until the mixture is the consistency of a chunky puree, about 2minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside to cool, then add the cilantro and stir to combine. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

ZHOUG (SPICY HERB SAUCE)

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until very smooth. You should have a bright green emulsified sauce. Use immediately or cover and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

ZHUG

Steps:

• In a small, dry pan, toast the peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds and cardamom seeds over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until slightly toasted and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer the seeds to a large mortar and pestle, and pulverize into a coarse powder.
• Add the garlic and chiles, and season evenly with kosher salt. Grind the mixture together until a tight paste forms, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add about 1/3 of the cilantro and parsley, and continue to pound together into a rough paste, another 4 to 5 minutes. Repeat two more times, adding the remaining cilantro and parsley in two batches, until the mixture is a slightly pulpy paste, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Drizzle in the olive oil while constantly pounding and grinding together the herb mixture until you achieve a loose, homogeneous paste. Continue to mix until it has the consistency of applesauce, about 2 minutes. Let it stand 10 minutes before serving.