19 minutes
A vibrant and flavorful sauce made with fresh herbs, spices, and chiles.
Coriander Seeds
teaspoons
Cumin Seeds
teaspoons
Cardamom Pods, seeds only
each
Fresh Hot Green Chiles, deribbed, seeded, roughly chopped
cups
Garlic Clove, smashed, peeled
each
Cilantro Leaves, lightly packed
cups
Flat-leaf Parsley Leaves, lightly packed
cups
Ground Cloves
pinches
Lemon Zest, finely grated
teaspoons
Lemon Juice, fresh
tablespoons
to taste
to taste
1. Toast and grind the seeds
Toast the coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and cardamom seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 4 minutes, until they release a fragrant aroma. Transfer the toasted seeds to a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, and grind them into a fine powder.
2. Process chiles and garlic
Place the chopped chiles and smashed garlic cloves in a food processor. Pulse these until they are fairly fine.
3. Add herbs and spices
Add the cilantro leaves, parsley leaves, the toasted and ground seeds, a pinch of ground cloves, lemon zest, lemon juice, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to the food processor. Pulse everything together until you have a rough puree.
4. Drizzle in olive oil
With the motor running, drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil. Stop processing just before the mixture becomes completely blended.
5. Adjust seasoning and store
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with more salt, black pepper, or lemon juice as needed. Store the finished sauce in the refrigerator, where it will keep for up to one week.
Choose vibrant, fresh cilantro and parsley with no wilting or yellowing, rinse and pat them dry thoroughly to prevent dilution of flavor in your sauce.
Start with less chile and add as needed, remove seeds and ribs for a milder sauce.
Allow the sauce to rest before serving to intensify and meld flavors, ideally overnight in the refrigerator.
Achieve a harmony of heat, freshness, and acidity, adjusting with honey or lemon as needed for the perfect zesty chile sauce.
A high-quality extra-virgin olive oil contributes a fruity, peppery note that can enhance the sauce's taste.
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