Here’s something I’ve had in my repertoire for many years now and on the occasion pull it out and give it another burl. Zhoug is a sauce you’ll find at street stalls in the Middle East, the stalls that sell kebabs and felafels. My original recipe calls for the rind of preserved lemon but seeing I didn’t have any floating about my pantry I made do with a little orange zest. Not quite the same flavour but tasty nevertheless.
It’s very much along the lines of a pesto that tastes of the Middle East rather than Italy and its versatility stretches as far as dipping warmed Turkish bread into it, or dunking your favourite felafels. This recipe changes every time I make it, so this is the current version.
This is the next installment of my “dinner for one” and it was used to sauce things up a bit, sans the felafels. So I’ve made gobi masala and now a sauce. Keep posted for the next installment tomorrow …
zhoug
Makes about 1 cup
- ½ tsp black peppercorns
- ½ tsp caraway seeds
- ¼ tsp cardamom seeds
- ½ sea salt flakes
- 1½ bunches coriander, just leaves and stems roughly chopped
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp orange zest
- ¾ cup ex virg olive oil
- Put the peppercorns, caraway seeds, cardamom and sea salt into a mortar and grind to a powder.
- Add the coriander, garlic, cumin and orange zest and pound to a paste. Gradually add the oil and keep pounding until a coarse paste forms. Alternatively do the second step in a food processor.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Anything green and “saucy” def has my name on it. Love the felafels too.
Peter G | Souvlaki For thee Soul recently posted..Photo Friday-A little bit of Sydney
I would love to drizzle this all over some warm Turkish bread this morning. The colour of it is fantastic!
Anna@ The Littlest Anchovy recently posted..Pork Ribs With Sticky, Sweet and Spicy Plum Sauce
Sounds great. Like a cross between zaatar and pesto. Different flavours obviously. Must try this with some flatbread.
Detective Chow recently posted..Kafenes, Enmore/Newtown — or — The Greek Question
Sounds delicious. I’d love this on some seared lamb fillet too.
Helen (grabyourfork) recently posted..The Eight, Haymarket
Middle Eastern chimichurri, I like it!
Gaby recently posted..Review: La Parrillada
I’ve been wondering how to use up considerable about of cardamom that I have in the panty. This looks like a good recipe for it.
Love Middle Eastern. Love pesto. Can’t wait to try this out sometime
I’ve never heard of Zhoug before, but I love it’s beautiful green colour! And I love felafels too, so I’m going to have to try it. By the way, I hope you are planning on sharing the recipe for those felafels as they look fantastic!
Jennifer (Delicieux) recently posted..Sesame & Cumin Lavosh
Excellent work on the ‘dinner for one’ concept. When I eat alone, it’s usually toast or a boiled egg. Love the name, too – zhoug sounds like glögg, except zhoug would be better with felafels.
OohLookBel recently posted..Bacon and potato patty fritters
I am starting to see the picture come together and I am liking it….I need to try zhoug!
Anna @ the shady pine recently posted..A journey to kitchenware nirvana!
Oooh, looks a lot more exotic than pesto, judging by the ingredient list – yum
Tina@foodboozeshoes recently posted..Year of the Dragon – Happy Lunar New Year
Hi Jennifer, sadly I didn’t make the felafels as they were a last minute prop idea. I went up the road and bought some!
I have never heard of zhoug before, but it sounds delicious.
lau@corridorkitchen recently posted..Easy Lamingtons
I always wanted a good recipe for Zoug. You pictures look incredible
tania@mykitchenstories.com.au recently posted..Move over Pavlova, Happy Australia Day!
Sounds like something up my alley with the coriander and zest. I can imagine it going well with some grilled lamb.
Martyna (Wholesome Cook) recently posted..Mango, white chocolate and lime lamingtons
Beautiful photos and such a great recipe. Reminds me a little of chimichurri, but looks like more fun.
Tori @ eatori recently posted..Getting evangelical about pulses- chickpeas
WOW that looks SO good. I am impressed not only by your recipe but by your photo – it’s gorgeous!! Thank you Foodgawker for leading me to your blog!
Amanda recently posted..Sakura Sakura
Zhoug and warm Turkish bread sounds like a marriage made in heaven.
Sara (Belly Rumbles) recently posted..Josh Vs Food – Moo Gourmet Burgers – Deluxe Moo Challenge