Zhoug Sauce Pasta with Tomato Relish
This Zhoug sauce pasta is exceptionally tasty and herbaceous. It’s vegan and gluten free. It requires minimal cooking but is packed with flavor and comes together from start to finish in under 30 minutes!
The key to making this pasta dish is zhoug (pronounced ZOOg); a bright, refreshing and easy to make cilantro based sauce. And to pair with the pasta is an equally refreshing fresh & juicy tomato relish. The combination is phenomenal, and this zhoug sauce pasta is such a wonderful meal addition on your table.
If you like spicy food, this one’s for you. And don’t worry, even if you don’t, I’ll share how to make it mild in the recipe details below!
What is Zhoug Sauce
Zhoug a spicy & spiced cilantro based sauce, known to have originated from Yemen. It then travelled to Israel & now popular all over the middle east & South Asia. Think of it like a pesto, a green chutney, a fresh verde or a chimichurri. What makes this unique is its combination of spices; and especially the addition of cardamom. It adds immense depth of flavor.
I first learned of Zhoug from Trader Joe’s several years ago and been hooked since! While it is conveniently available in many stores these days, there’s just nothing like making your own, especially given how easy it is to make. It has become a staple in my weekly meal plan and I make a batch almost weekly!
How to make Zhoug Sauce Pasta
There are three main components to putting this together
- Making zhoug sauce
- Making Tomato relish
- Cooking pasta and putting them all together
It’s that simple!
Making the zhoug sauce
You’ll need:
fresh cilantro
fresh parsley
jalapeños
cardamom
cumin seeds
coriander seeds (or powder)
garlic
extra virgin olive oil
lemon juice
Making zhoug is as easy to adding the ingredients one by one to a food processor or blender and making them into a coarse paste/pesto-like consistency. Do not blend into a smooth puree, but pulse into a coarse mixture.
This stores well in the fridge up to a week, and is great on pretty anything! You can add it to salads, tacos, sandwiches or even your breakfast burritos! The sauce may seem spicy when you make it fresh but it tends to mellow out over time.
Make a big batch and refrigerate it, because it’s addictive and you’ll be putting it on everything!
Making the tomato relish
You’ll need:
fresh tomatoes
red onions
fresh parsley
lemon juice
salt & pepper
Chop these all up and toss together and allow to marinate at room temperature, and that’s it!
Putting the zhoug sauce pasta together
I’ve used chickpea pasta for this recipe to keep it gluten free. You could use any pasta or noodle of choice. Just cook the pasta per box instructions, drain and transfer to a bowl. Gently toss together cooked pasta with the Zhoug sauce. Use how much ever sauce you’d like, but I’ve recommend my ideal quantity in the recipe below. Just before serving/eating, top with fresh relish and enjoy!
If you’re inspired by this post, or try this recipe out, please leave your comment below, and share a photo with me! I’d love to see your creations.
Did you know, I’m also on Instagram? I share more about my daily life, including healthy smoothies, quick breakfasts, and a few tips & tricks! If you’re interested, find me on Instagram and Pinterest @supriyaramankitchen
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