Zhug

Zhug is a hot sauce originating in Yemeni cuisine, also known by regional names including sahawiq, mabooj, harif and bisbaas. It is made primarily from fresh hot peppers, such as red or green bird's eye chilies or jalapenos, combined with coriander, garlic and salt and mixed with olive oil, often with parsley and optional additions such as black cumin, caraway seed, cardamom and black pepper; the name sahawiq comes from an Arabic root meaning to pestle or crush, making it semantically similar to pesto, and traditional Yemeni preparation uses stone tools though mortars, pestles and food processors are now also used. Yemen, its place of origin, has three main varieties, green, red and cheese-incorporating versions, and the sauce is a key ingredient in traditional Yemeni dishes such as saltah; it has also spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond, becoming a popular condiment at Israeli falafel and shawarma stands and served with hummus.