Magic Garlicky Green sauce

Friends, readers, and all the sauce-loving people of the internet: let me introduce you to my Magic Garlicy Green Sauce; it's your new SCOOP-ON-EVERYTHING sauce!!! This sauce magically makes everything taste a little bit better.

What is Magic Garlicky Green Sauce?

Tangy, sharp flavours like lemon, garlic and cilantro liven up this lovely fresh-herb sauce. Hailing from Palestine, this pesto-reminiscent sauce—texture-wise, is like pesto on steroids.

The Magic Garlicky Green Sauce is also known as Teklai. I first discovered this sauce from the cookbook Olives, lemon, & za'atar, written by Rawia Bishara. Her recipe didn't call for fresh herbs, but I found they were a very tasty addition.

Also, some traditional recipes for Teklai are made without cooking. Another version includes the mashing of garlic in olive oil; once the garlic is mashed, they add fresh cilantro and small chilli pepper.

Once I made this sauce, it quickly became my pantry staple and my go-to sauce whenever a dish needed that little Je ne sais quoi. This sauce can be used on or with anything: dressing, sauce, marinade –> you name it. That’s why it’s called magic garlicky green sauce!

This Magic Garlicky Green Sauce is quick, extremely yummy, and may actually be the true love of my life. (Ok, I know that's a bit out there, but it has never failed to delight me)

How to make the Magic Garlicky Green Sauce

Whipping up this magical sauce couldn’t be easier. Dazzling flavours and no-brainer prep. This recipe is made quickly and easily with the help of a mini food processor—and it will surely become your new pantry staple. Here’s how easy it is to make the best herbaceous sauce ever:

1. Chop the cilantro & red pepper
2. Blend the garlic in a mini food processor.
3. Simmer in the olive oil.

How to use the Magic Garlicky Green Sauce:

A slather or spoonful will make just about anything taste better. I love to use this sauce on:

• Soups! This is one of my favourite uses. Simply cook your soup or stew, top with a spoonful and taste the magic.
• Musahaba or hummus + garlicky green sauce = mind-blowing deliciousness!
• On a sandwich. Spread some on a simple chicken sandwich, and thank me later.
• Smashed mini potatoes are a perfect dish for enjoying this sauce.
• Eggs! Whip a spoonful of this sauce into your eggs—turns out your eggs will be even more delicious.

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Magic Garlicy Green Sauce

Sarah

Magic Garlicky Green Sauce is your new SCOOP-ON-EVERYTHING sauce!!! This sauce magically makes everything taste a little bit better with a single scoop.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Course Dips, mezze, spices

Cuisine Middle Eastern

Servings 1 cup

Ingredients

  

• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 and ½ head of garlic skin removed, minced
• 1 red jalapeño finely chopped
• ¼ teaspoon coriander seeds coarsely ground
• ½ teaspoon cumin ground
• 1 bunch of fresh cilantro washed, finely chopped
• 1 fresh lemon juiced
• Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

 

• Add olive oil, red jalapeño and minced garlic into a small cold frying pan.
• Set the heat to medium-low; once minced garlic becomes aromatic and lightly golden, add the coriander seeds and cumin. Give a quick stir and allow light toasting of the spices to bring out the aromas⏤1-2 minutes of cooking needed.
• Stir in the cilantro. Allow the cilantro to wilt and become bright green.
• Once the cilantro is bright green, add the lemon juice and pinch of sea salt.
• Remove from heat source. Scoop into a glass container.

Notes

Tip! Mincing a whole head of garlic can be a tedious task. To speed up the process add the garlic to a mini food processor a give a couple of pulses until the garlic is minced.