Best 8 Zhug Spicy Garlic Spread Recipes

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**Zhug (Spicy Garlic Spread): A Flavorful Journey Through Yemeni Cuisine**

Embark on a culinary adventure to the vibrant streets of Yemen with zhug, a tantalizing spicy garlic spread that captures the essence of this rich and diverse cuisine. This versatile condiment, pronounced "zoog," is a symphony of flavors, combining the heat of chili peppers, the aromatic depth of garlic, the tang of lemon, and the warmth of cumin and coriander. From street food stalls to family kitchens, zhug is an indispensable part of Yemeni meals, adding a fiery kick to everything from soups and stews to grilled meats and fresh vegetables. Whether you're a seasoned spice enthusiast or seeking to explore new culinary horizons, zhug is sure to ignite your taste buds and leave you craving more.

**Zhug Sauce: The Classic Yemeni Condiment**

This recipe introduces the classic zhug sauce, a staple in every Yemeni kitchen. With a vibrant green hue and a fiery, assertive flavor, this sauce is a versatile accompaniment to a wide array of dishes. Learn how to balance the heat of chili peppers with the cooling touch of cilantro and parsley, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.

**Zhug Butter: A Fusion of Yemeni and Western Flavors**

For those who prefer a milder heat level, zhug butter offers a delightful fusion of Yemeni and Western flavors. This recipe combines the zesty freshness of zhug with the richness of butter, creating a creamy spread that adds a touch of sophistication to your culinary creations.

**Zhug Hummus: A Spicy Twist on a Classic Dip**

Zhug hummus takes the classic hummus to new heights of flavor. This innovative recipe infuses the creamy chickpea dip with the vibrant heat of zhug, resulting in a tantalizing spread that is both creamy and spicy. Prepare to be amazed by the perfect balance of flavors in this unique and delicious dip.

**Zhug Marinated Chicken: A Burst of Flavor in Every Bite**

Zhug marinade elevates grilled or roasted chicken to extraordinary levels of taste. This recipe guides you through the process of creating a flavorful marinade that deeply penetrates the chicken, infusing it with a spicy, aromatic essence. The result is succulent, tender chicken that will leave a lasting impression on your palate.

**Zhug Potatoes: A Spicy Side Dish with a Golden Crust**

Zhug potatoes are a delightful side dish that combines the crispy texture of roasted potatoes with the vibrant flavors of zhug. This recipe shows you how to achieve perfectly crispy potatoes while infusing them with the spicy, garlicky goodness of zhug.

**Zhug Eggs: A Spicy Start to Your Day**

Zhug eggs offer a unique and flavorful way to start your day. This recipe demonstrates how to create a zhug-infused omelet, adding a spicy kick to your breakfast routine. The combination of zhug's bold flavors with the protein-rich eggs results in a satisfying and energizing meal.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

ZHUG



Zhug image

This spicy green sauce is as full of flavor as it is of color. Use it raw as a dip with falafel, vegetables, sandwiches and wraps. Add a fresh dollop to soups, rice, pasta, or egg dishes for an extra spicy boost of flavor. It also works wonderfully as a marinade on meat or fish. Covered with a thin layer of olive oil, it will keep up to two weeks in the refrigerator. It's also vegan, gluten-free, low sugar, and low sodium, making it perfect for almost any diet.

Provided by Buckwheat Queen

Categories     100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes     Vegan

Time 15m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 ounce flat-leaf parsley, stems removed
1 ounce fresh cilantro, stems removed
2 cloves garlic
¼ lemon, juiced and zested
3 green bird's eye chile peppers, stems removed
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground coriander
salt and pepper to taste
2 ice cubes
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, or as needed

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 59.3 calories, Carbohydrate 2.1 g, Fat 5.7 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 0.5 g, SaturatedFat 0.8 g, Sodium 19.7 mg, Sugar 0.7 g

ZHOUG! (SPICY CILANTRO SAUCE)



Zhoug! (Spicy Cilantro Sauce) image

Homemade zhoug sauce adds a spicy cilantro kick to any meal! Zhoug is a popular Middle Eastern condiment that's very easy to make. Recipe yields 1 1/4 cup.

Provided by Cookie and Kate

Categories     Condiment

Time 10m

Number Of Ingredients 8

4 medium cloves garlic, roughly chopped
2 packed cups fresh cilantro (about 2 bunches, mostly leaves but skinny stems are ok)
4 medium jalapeños, seeds removed but reserved
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, more to taste
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

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.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 2 tablespoons, Calories 150 calories, Sugar 0.3 g, Sodium 226.9 mg, Fat 16.9 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 1.2 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 0.3 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

ZHOUG (SPICY HERB SAUCE)



Zhoug (Spicy Herb Sauce) image

Zhoug is a spicy herb sauce of Yemenite origin that you find in Syria and Israel. It's often the go-to condiment for falafel and is eaten with bread for those who want heat with every bite. It's a must with Shakshuka, and you'll probably find yourself stirring it into scrambled eggs, spreading it on a sandwich, mixing it with Greek yogurt to make a dip, or just eating it by the spoonful.

Provided by Ana Sortun

Categories     Sauce     Chile Pepper     Cilantro     Garlic     Coriander     Cumin

Yield Makes 1 1/4 cups

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 Hungarian wax peppers, stemmed and coarsely chopped (seeds are good) (see Cooks' Note below)
1 1/2 cups fresh cilantro leaves (from one large bunch or two small ones)
1 1/2 cups fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves (from one bunch)
2 cloves peeled garlic
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons sherry vinegar

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 / SPICY GARLIC SPREAD



Zhug / Spicy Garlic Spread image

I found this on line yet to try! A Spicy Yemenite condiment,(Pronounced Zzzz-Hoog, One Syllable) good for soups, stews, or spread on toast when your MIL comes to visit. Also very nice stirred into chicken soup when you have a bad sinus cold. This version is from Claudia Roden's New Book of Middle Eastern Food (Penguin, 1985).

Provided by Rita1652

Categories     Sauces

Time 15m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon caraway seed
4 cardamom pods
4 strong dried hot peppers (soaked in water 1 hour)
1 whole bulb of garlic (peel)
1 bunch coriander leaves (remove stems)
salt

Steps:

  • Grind and blend all ingredients into a paste.
  • Keeps for quite a while in a tightly closed jar with a layer of oil spread over the top.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 8.7, Fat 0.1, Sodium 5.4, Carbohydrate 1.7, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 0.2, Protein 0.5

AUTHENTIC ZHOUG SAUCE RECIPE (ZHUG)



Authentic Zhoug Sauce Recipe (Zhug) image

Zhoug Recipe - a flavorful Middle Eastern Green Chili Sauce that gives meals a burst of flavor. Simple easy recipe that can be made in 5 minutes flat! This version is simple and easy without compromising flavor. Lather it over grilling meats, spoon it into falafels and wraps, liven up soups and stews or my favorite...make Zhoug Yogurt by stirring it into yogurt for a flavorful sauce.

Provided by Sylvia Fountaine

Categories     Condiment

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 11

1-3 whole jalapenos, sliced ( start with one, if unsure)
2 fat garlic cloves
1 bunch cilantro, small stems ok (about 1 cup packed tightly)
½ teaspoon ground cardamon ( or whole seeds, please see notes)
1 teaspoon cumin- ground or whole seeds
1 teaspoon caraway seeds- optional but good!
1/2 teaspoon peppercorns - optional
½ teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste
1/3 cup olive oil, more to desired consistency
2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon chili flakes (Aleppo chili is nice), more to taste (optional)

Steps:

  • over med-low heat until fragrant. Note: If using cardamom pods- crush the pods and remove the seeds- just toast the seeds. (Video is not accurate here.) Let cool slightly.
  • Place the toasted spices and all the remaining ingredients (except the oil) in a food processor and pulse until it's uniformly chopped. Add oil and lemon juice and pulse into a coarse paste. For a looser version, add a bit more oil.
  • Taste for salt and heat, adding more if necessary.
  • Add chili flakes if you like.
  • Store in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to one week.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 tablespoon, Calories 26 calories, Sugar 0.2 g, Sodium 29.6 mg, Fat 2.8 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 0.3 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 0.1 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

ANCHOVY GARLIC SPREAD



Anchovy Garlic Spread image

A change from garlic toast. You need to at least "like" anchovies for this one! Serving size depends on how thick or thin you spread the mixture on each slice of bread.

Provided by Rise3834

Categories     Spreads

Time 8m

Yield 8 slices

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 can flat anchovy
2 tablespoons olive oil
10 -12 cloves garlic
mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Steps:

  • Saute' garlic in oil (do not brown).
  • Add anchovies and cook/saute for a few minutes.
  • Put mixture in blender or food processor and puree.
  • Spread onto sliced French, Sour Dough or Italian bread.
  • Cover each slice with desired amount of cheese.
  • Place under broiler until the cheese becomes bubbly.
  • Note: if you are not terribly fond of anchovies (very salty fish) I would put on a thinner spread.

ZHUG



Zhug image

This bright green sauce from Yemen - so fresh from cilantro, so spicy from serrano chiles, so vividly aromatic - will open up a whole world in your cooking. Treat it just as you would a basil pesto or a salsa verde: Make it in small batches, in the mortar and pestle, and then spoon it with abandon over your lunch of cooked lentils with Bulgarian white cheese, chunks of ripe tomatoes and cold cucumbers, your dinner of roasted chicken and sautéed zucchini, or even your breakfast of fried eggs. It brings intense new life and dimension to everything it touches.

Provided by Gabrielle Hamilton

Categories     brunch, lunch, snack, weeknight, appetizer, side dish

Time 40m

Yield About 8 servings (1 generous cup)

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
2 teaspoons coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon cardamom seeds, extracted from about 10 cardamom pods
6 garlic cloves, smashed
4 serrano chiles, cut into very thin coins
1 to 3 teaspoons kosher salt, to taste
3 tightly packed cups roughly chopped cilantro leaves and stems
1 1/2 tightly packed cups roughly chopped parsley leaves
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

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



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.

Tips:

  • Use fresh ingredients: The fresher the ingredients, the better the zhug will taste. This is especially true for the cilantro, parsley, and garlic.
  • Don't be afraid to adjust the spices: Zhug is a versatile condiment that can be tailored to your own taste. If you like it spicy, add more chili peppers. If you prefer a milder flavor, use less.
  • Let the zhug sit for a while before serving: This allows the flavors to meld and develop. If you're short on time, you can serve it immediately, but it will be even better if you let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
  • Zhug can be used as a condiment or a marinade: It's great on grilled meats, fish, or vegetables. You can also use it to add flavor to soups, stews, or sauces.

Conclusion:

Zhug is a delicious and versatile condiment that's easy to make at home. With its bright, herbaceous flavor and spicy kick, it's sure to become a favorite in your kitchen. So next time you're looking for something to add some excitement to your meal, give zhug a try. You won't be disappointed!

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