Inspired by the popular Middle Eastern condiment zhoug, this whole-food version packs major flavor and nutrition! It gets its richness from nuts or seeds instead of oil. Warm with cardamom and cumin and made as spicy as you like, this healthier take on zhoug sauce is just as versatile as the authentic version. Spread it on toast, toss it with pasta, and use it as a dip for everything from veggies to falafel.
Prepare the jalapenos: this is where you decide the level of heat! Remove seeds to reduce the overall heat, or include seeds for extra spicy zhoug. You can also reserve some of the seeds then add them after blending if you decide you want it spicier. If removing seeds, do that first, then slice jalapenos.*I used 2 large jalapenos with seeds removed from one.
Combine jalapenos, garlic, and walnuts in the bowl of a food processor. Process until broken down into a sticky crumb texture. Add cilantro, red pepper, cumin, cardamom, ¾ tsp salt, and juice, and process until everything is incorporated and finely chopped.
With the food processor running, drizzle in water 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistancy is reached. Keep in mind, if you altered the amount of nuts/seeds this will affect the amount of water needed. *For a thick pesto consistency I used 1 ¼ cups walnut halves and ¼ cup water.
Taste and adjust salt/spice as desired. Transfer to a storage container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Notes
Store zhoug sauce in the refrigerator for up to one week. Can also be frozen for longer storage.