This Is the Ultimate Hot Sauce Recipe You Didn't Know You Need! (2024)

By: kseniaprints · Published: · Updated: · This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe Pin RecipeJump to Video

Schug is a green Yemenite Hot Sauce made out of cilantro, jalapeno peppers garlic and Middle Eastern spices. It's spicy and perky, the best way to spice up your meals!

This Is the Ultimate Hot Sauce Recipe You Didn't Know You Need! (1)
Jump to:
  • What is schug sauce?
  • Why you should try this Schug hot sauce
  • Ingredients
  • Equipment
  • Directions
  • Storage
  • Scaling the recipe
  • Serving suggestions
  • Recipe

What is schug sauce?

This Is the Ultimate Hot Sauce Recipe You Didn't Know You Need! (2)

Schug is a Yemenite hot sauce that combines blended hot peppers, herbs, spices and citrus. It used to be made in a mortar and pestle, but these days a food processor makes short work of the entire process.

You may occassionally see schug spelled as zhug. Whether you call it schug or zhug, this Yemenite hot sauce recipe is one you won't soon forget!

Schug has a zesty, spicy flavor. it can feel very hot if you eat it on its own, but it mellows considerably when combined with other foods.

I also love mixing schug with mayonnaise for schug mayo, or with mayonnaise and sour cream and diced veggies to add a bit of spice to my vegetable dipping sauce.

Why you should try this Schug hot sauce

This Is the Ultimate Hot Sauce Recipe You Didn't Know You Need! (3)

Having a good, exotic and homemade hot sauce in your cupboard can mean the difference between humdrum meals and OUTSTANDING recipes that set your mouth dancing!

True, you can usually pour some Sriracha or Tabasco on your eggs or grilled cheese, but I believe taking a few minutes to make a batch of homemade hot sauce can really set your food apart.

This hot sauce is one of my favourite condiments because it is:

  • Not too spicy
  • Nuanced - the mix of sour, spicy and herbaceous really makes this sauce complex, unlike many vinegar-based hot sauces
  • Gluten-free
  • Vegan
  • Raw
  • Paleo
  • Keto
  • Whole 30 appropriate
  • Ready in minutes
  • Keeps for months in your fridge

If you are looking for more Israeli and Middle Eastern food, check out my Jewish recipes section.

Ingredients

This Is the Ultimate Hot Sauce Recipe You Didn't Know You Need! (4)

Here's what you'll need for this easy schug recipe:

  • jalapeno peppers
  • diced cilantro
  • garlic cloves
  • cumin
  • cardamom
  • salt & black pepper
  • olive oil

Equipment

  • Cutting Board
  • Chef's Knife
  • Food Processor
  • Jar with lid, or ice cube tray

Directions

This Is the Ultimate Hot Sauce Recipe You Didn't Know You Need! (5)

Making this sauce really could not be easier.

Just place all the ingredients in a food processor with a steel blade and process to a smooth mash. Top with more olive oil, and store in a jar in the refrigerator.

Storage

This Is the Ultimate Hot Sauce Recipe You Didn't Know You Need! (6)

Yemenite schug will keep in the fridge in a well-sealed container for a week weeks, and even a month or two. Just make sure you top it with a bit of olive oil if the sauce looks too dry.

Freezer

You can easily freeze this schug recipe! Just make sure you store it in a plastic container OR leave plenty of room for the sauce to expand in your glass jar.

You can also freeze this sauce in ice cube trays, similar to my cilantro pesto. That way you'll end up with schug hot sauce cubes that you can easily add to dishes as you cook.

Scaling the recipe

This Is the Ultimate Hot Sauce Recipe You Didn't Know You Need! (7)

This recipe makes about 250g of schug, or about 1 cup of Yemenite hot sauce. That should last you for a while, but feel free to increase the quantity of the peppers and the rest of the ingredients accordingly.

Serving suggestions

This Is the Ultimate Hot Sauce Recipe You Didn't Know You Need! (8)

A smear of schug hot sauce is crucial for my Middle Eastern eggplant grilled cheese sandwich. But I also like to add it to my shakshuka, eggs, beans, soup and so much more! It's a very versatile hot sauce.

Try these dishes with schug hot sauce:

  • Chicken Colombian Sancocho Recipe
  • The Ultimate Guide for Making Uzbek Chicken Plov
  • Instant Pot Chicken Ghallaba Recipe
  • Gluten-Free Irish Boxty Potato Pancakes

Other Middle Eastern recipes you will love

  • Bocadillo Guava and Cheese Hamantaschen
  • Rose Pistachio Hamantaschen
  • How to make fermented pickles at home (kosher dill pickles)
  • Jam Filled Dairy Free and Gluten-Free Sufganiyot, aka Hanukkah Jelly Donuts

For more spicy recipes:

  • Mexican Gluten-free Cornbread that is Sweet and Spicy
  • How to make Ají (Colombian salsa): The best hot sauce you didn't know you were missing!
  • Spicy citrus salad with pistachios, or the dish that distills the pardes {V, GF, Paleo}
  • Spicy Moroccan Carrot Salad

Recipe

Tried and loved this recipe? Please leave a 5-star review below! Your reviews mean a lot to me, so if you've got any questions, please let me know in a comment.

Yemenite hot sauce (schug)

Ksenia Prints

Schug is a green Yemenite Hot Sauce made out of cilantro, jalapeno peppers garlic and Middle Eastern spices. It's spicy and perky, the best way to spice up your meals!

4.95 from 40 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Condiment, Hot sauce, Sauce

Cuisine Jewish, Middle Eastern, yemenite

Servings 250 gram

Calories 4 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2-3 jalapeno peppers
  • cup diced cilantro
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • pinch cardamom
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ cup olive oil or more for covering

Instructions

  • Put all the schug ingredients in a food processor with a steel blade and process to a smooth mash. Top with olive oil as needed to ensure it is properly covered. Store in a jar in the refrigerator.

  • Schug will keep in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for a few months. You can also freeze it in a plastic container, or in ice cube trays.

Nutrition

Serving: 5gramsCalories: 4kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 1mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 1mg

Keyword cilantro, garlic, gluten-free, hot sauce, jalapeno, keto, paleo, peppers, spicy, vegan, whole 30

Tried this recipe?Comment + Rate Below!

Connect on Instagram!Find us @immigrantstable

This Is the Ultimate Hot Sauce Recipe You Didn't Know You Need! (22)

About Ksenia

Welcome to At The Immigrant's Table! I blend my immigrant roots with modern diets, crafting recipes that take you on a global kitchen adventure. As a food blogger and photographer, I'm dedicated to making international cuisine both healthy and accessible. Let's embark on a culinary journey that bridges cultures and introduces a world of flavors right into your home. Read more...

  • This Is the Ultimate Hot Sauce Recipe You Didn't Know You Need! (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you win the hot sauce challenge? ›

    How To Win A Hot Sauce Challenge
    1. Start Prepping for Your Hot Sauce Challenge Now.
    2. Feel the Burn.
    3. Remember That It's Temporary.
    4. Choose Your Hot Sauce Delivery System.
    5. Drink Water Before — Not After — Your Hot Sauce Challenge.
    6. Get Ready to Sweat.
    7. Get Your Hot Sauce Challenge Sauces.

    What are the basic ingredients of all hot sauces? ›

    Chili peppers of all varieties are the main ingredient in hot sauces providing their fiery flavor. Other common ingredients include vinegar, citrus fruits (lemons, limes, etc.), seasonings (e.g., garlic), salt, and other vegetables and fruits often pickled in the sauce.

    Was Texas Pete hot sauce discontinued? ›

    by Texas Pete was released in 2016 as their Mexican style hot sauce. In 2015, the TW Garner Food Company discontinued production of its Texas Pete Chili Sauce for hot dogs and hamburgers.

    What is the strongest hot sauce ever? ›

    If you want to try the hottest pepper in the world, we'd recommend pure Carolina Reaper Puree. Carolina Reapers have reached 2.2 million Scoville Heat Units. Plus, they taste a lot better than extracts.

    What is the hot sauce experiment? ›

    The hot sauce paradigm is a way to measure aggressive behavior in the lab. Participants are asked to give a portion of hot sauce to another person (who they know hates hot sauce) and who will have to eat it all, ostensibly as part of a taste test.

    What is the world record for drinking hot sauce? ›

    Guinness World Records | Fastest time to drink a bottle of hot sauce 7.84 seconds by André Ortolf 🇩🇪 @andre.

    What is the best vinegar for hot sauce? ›

    There are all different kinds of vinegar used in cuisine today, from white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, rice wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and champagne vinegar. However, the best and most common kind used for hot sauces is white wine vinegar.

    What is the oldest hot sauce? ›

    7000 BC: The first known hot sauce was invented by the Aztecs. Their simple recipe was a mixture of water and ground-up chili peppers—no fancy flavors or exotic peppers here.

    What is the oldest hot sauce brand? ›

    Tabasco sauce is the earliest recognizable brand in the United States hot sauce industry, appearing in 1868.

    Is Frank's hot sauce hotter than Texas Pete? ›

    Texas Pete hot sauce is 747 on the Scoville scale, making it hotter than Louisiana Hot Sauce and Frank's RedHot.

    Why is hot sauce not hot anymore? ›

    With time, the ingredients will lose their potency. So, while it may not get you sick, an old bottle of hot sauce may not do the trick when it comes to spicing up a meal.

    What pepper is in Frank's Red Hot? ›

    Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce is made with a premium blend of aged cayenne peppers to add a kick of heat and whole lot of flavor to your favorite foods.

    Does hot sauce go bad? ›

    Yes, hot sauce does expire.

    The shelf life of most types of commercial hot sauce is between 1-2 years when unopened according to the USDA. However, after opening it, it will normally last for several months up to a year depending on the type, how it was made, and how it was stored.

    What is the most sold hot sauce? ›

    Frank's not only the most popular hot sauce, but it's also the most uniquely popular hot sauce in most states with 16 states primarily in the North East buying it more than the national average. Whether it's party wings or pizza, we know Frank's can complement a lot,” Instacart said.

    How to host a hot sauce competition? ›

    Turn your hot sauce tasting party into a friendly competition by encouraging guests to vote for their favorite sauces in different categories, such as “Most Unique Flavor” or “Best Heat Level.” Award small prizes to winners, adding an element of excitement.

    Does Pepto Bismol help with spicy food? ›

    Both Pepto-Bismol and Tums have antacid effects, which help neutralize stomach acid. Too much stomach acid after eating spicy foods or large meals can sometimes cause a burning sensation or discomfort in the chest and upper abdominal region. Antacids can help relieve these symptoms.

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Horacio Brakus JD

    Last Updated:

    Views: 6067

    Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

    Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Horacio Brakus JD

    Birthday: 1999-08-21

    Address: Apt. 524 43384 Minnie Prairie, South Edda, MA 62804

    Phone: +5931039998219

    Job: Sales Strategist

    Hobby: Sculling, Kitesurfing, Orienteering, Painting, Computer programming, Creative writing, Scuba diving

    Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.