Yemens Very Famous Zhoug Recipes

ZHUG, YEMENI GREEN HOT SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a small frying pan on medium heat and dry fry the cumin for 2-3 minutes until aromatic.
• Place in a spice mill or coffee mill and ground to a powder.
• Now let's make the sauce. Place the garlic, salt and chillies in a chopper and chop until coarse.
• Chop the coriander leaves next. If your chopper isn't big enough, do this in 2 batches, then mix everything up in a bowl.
• Mix in the cumin.
• Add the olive oil, lemon juice and water and mix (either still in the chopper or with a spoon in a bowl).
• Place in a container, top with more olive oil and it should keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks.

ZHOUG - A FRESH AND SPICY SAUCE FROM YEMEN

Steps:

• Place everything except the water in a food processor or blender. Pulse several times until everything is well combined with a texture similar to pesto - a slightly chunky paste. Alternately, make your zhoug by chopping everything very finely with a knife, or by bashing everything together in a mortar and pestle.
• Add a splash of water if you want to thin the texture a bit.
• Give it a taste, and add additional salt if desired.
• Zhoug will keep well in the refrigerator for several days.

YEMEN'S VERY FAMOUS ZHOUG!

Steps:

• Trim, seed, and coarsely chop 1 pound jalapeño or serrano chiles. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the chiles with 1 cup each chopped Italian parsley and cilantroincluding the tender stems, 2 tablespoon coarsely chopped garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper.
• Process to form a rough,chunky paste. Pour in 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil and process again briefly. Pack into a glass jar, cover the top with olive oil, and store in the refrigerator up to 3 months.

ZHOUG (YEMENI CHILI SAUCE)

Steps:

• Run the jalapenos and the garlic through a blender or food processor until smooth. Add the herbs, spices and enough water to blend into a smooth paste. Add the olive oil, season to taste, and pulse for one more minute. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use (will keep up to three months).

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.

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.