Best Zchug Yemenite Hot Salsa Recipes

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



How to Make Schug (Skug, Zhug, Zhoug) Sauce image

Adapted from Joshua McFadden's Six Seasons Schug (pronounced skoog, sometimes spelled Skug, Zhug, Zhoug) is a Middle Eastern (often used in Yemeni/Israeli cooking) blend of herbs, chilies, and toasted spices: there's cumin and coriander as well as hot chilies. Because the chilies are seeded, the sauce is not impossibly spicy-it's, in fact, bright with lemon, and it has a bit of texture thanks to the mass of chilies, garlic, and herbs. Once you make schug once, you will want to put it on everything. Note: You'll see in the video I only used 1 chili - it was all I had on hand that day! - and I didn't add lemon zest...I forgot. All of this is to say the recipe is very forgiving. As long as you include some toasted spices and something that provides a little heat, and as long as you get the balance of lemon to olive oil right, you'll be good to go.

Provided by Alexandra Stafford

Categories     Condiment

Time 10m

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 cup (or less! see notes above) seeded and roughly chopped fresh hot green chilies, such as serrano (2 to 4)
2 to 3 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
2 cups lightly packed cilantro leaves and stems
2 cups lightly packed flat-leaf parsley leaves and stems (rough stems removed)
zest from one lemon
juice from one lemon, about 3 tablespoons
salt and freshly cracked black pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

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.

ZHUG



Zhug image

Both deeply herby and searingly spicy, this Yemenite condiment is popular all over the Middle East, where it's dabbed on just about everything: falafels, shawarma, grilled meats and vegetables. You can adjust the heat to suit your tolerance: Use fewer jalapeños for something more moderate, or the full amount if you like your sauces to pack a punch. This recipe leans into the earthy, bright flavor of cilantro, but using half parsley and half cilantro is equally popular if you want to vary it.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     sauces and gravies

Time 10m

Yield About 2 cups

Number Of Ingredients 9

10 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
4 to 8 jalapeños, seeded and sliced
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, more to taste
2 packed cups roughly chopped cilantro leaves and stems
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom or coriander
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (Diamond Crystal), plus more to taste

Steps:

  • Place garlic, jalapeño and lemon juice in a food processor or blender, and pulse to combine, stopping to scrape down the sides of the container with a spatula when necessary.
  • Add cilantro, cumin, cardamom or coriander, and pepper, and purée until smooth. With the motor running, gradually drizzle in the olive oil to form a homogeneous paste. Pulse in salt. Taste, and add more salt and lemon juice if needed.
  • Use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Use as a sauce for grilled or roasted meat or seafood, especially full-flavored fish like mackerel, tuna and salmon; spoon it over egg dishes like shakshuka and scrambled eggs; stir it into soups and stews; spread it on sandwiches, especially those filled with falafel, roasted vegetables, or mozzarella and tomato; swirl it into thick yogurt or hummus for a dip.

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