Best Zhug Chicken Recipes

ZHUG CHICKEN

Steps:

• Spread 1 1/2 tablespoons zhug sauce over each piece of chicken. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Remove from fridge about 30 minutes before cooking so chicken is at room temperature.
• Remover the outer leaves from artichokes to expose the core leaves and hearts. Cut artichokes into quarters. Put them into a bowl, cover with water, and add lemon juice. Mix artichokes around and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place marinated chicken into a deep baking dish. Drain artichokes and add them around the chicken, pushing them down to keep them from being exposed and drying out. Top with olives and sun-dried tomatoes.
• Bake, uncovered, 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).

SUMAC ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preparation: Lay the chicken breast side up. Being careful not to tear the skin, separate it from the flesh by easing your finger underneath the skin. Gently work your fingers as far up the breast meat as you can, then as far down the legs as you can. (This separation will allow for crisper skin during roasting.) Then dry the chicken thoroughly with paper towels.
• Seasoning: Salt the chicken all over, lightly on the wings and heavier on the breasts, legs, and thighs. Sprinkle about ½ teaspoon inside the cavity. Then liberally season the chicken all over with sumac in an even layer, sprinkling some inside the cavity as well. Liberally grind pepper over the chicken. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 3 hours. After 3 hours, remove chicken from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature, 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Roasting: Thoroughly dry the chicken again with paper towels, inside and out. Twist and tuck the wing tips under the chicken for even cooking. Over high heat, preheat a cast-iron skillet that is just big enough for the chicken to fit in. If you don't have cast-iron, use a heavy-bottomed stainless steel pan. (If you're using stainless steel, add a bit of vegetable oil to the pan right before adding the chicken.) When the skillet is very hot, turn heat to medium and add the chicken, breast side down. Turn heat back to high and cook for about 30 seconds; then place the skillet in the oven. Cook for 30 minutes. (Total roasting time will be about 1 hour.)
• Resting: After 30 minutes, remove skillet from the oven. Use tongs and a meat fork to flip the chicken over so it is breast side up. Place back in the oven and cook for another 25-30 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted into the middle of the breast reads 150-155 degrees F. (Note: Chef Berglund prefers his chicken slightly under the USDA-recommended temperature of 165 degrees F. The temperature will continue to rise a bit as the chicken rests after roasting.) Remove chicken from the pan and let rest before carving, breast side up and loosely covered with aluminum foil, 30-35 minutes.
• Carving: Slice the skin between each leg and breast to loosen the leg portions, but allow them to stay attached. Turn the cavity away from you; then slice alongside either side of the breast plate to the joint between the wing and the carcass. Remove the breast and wing on one side, then the other. Flip the chicken over, cut around the leg and thigh, and remove. Repeat with the other leg and thigh. (Optional: Cut the leg and thigh into two pieces, then cut each breast into two pieces.) Arrange on a serving platter and serve immediately.

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.

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:

• 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.

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.