This Chermoula sauce is bright, aromatic and simple to make. Fresh herbs, garlic, lemon and warm spices come together to create a Moroccan condiment that pairs beautifully with grilled or roasted seafood, vegetables, and meats.
What is Chermoula?
Chermoula is a North African herb sauce traditionally served with fish, seafood and vegetables. It typically combines parsley and cilantro with garlic, lemon and warm spices such as cumin and paprika. Variations range from mild and herb-forward to spicier versions — this recipe leans toward the milder, fresh-herb style.
Think of chermoula like a North African pesto or chimichurri: a bright, herbaceous condiment used to finish or marinate dishes.
How to Make Chermoula
Traditional chermoula often starts with toasting whole spices and grinding them, then infusing oil with the spice blend before adding herbs. For a quicker but still very flavorful approach, this version uses ground spices warmed in oil, then combined with chopped herbs, garlic and lemon — minimal effort, maximum taste.
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Place the ground spices in a small microwave-safe bowl, add the olive oil and warm for about 20 seconds to bloom the spices.
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Finely chop the parsley and cilantro by hand — for small amounts this saves cleanup and keeps the texture fresh.
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Stir the chopped herbs, minced garlic and lemon juice into the warm spice-oil mixture until combined. Taste and adjust salt or heat as needed.
Chermoula Recipe Tips
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This sauce makes a great marinade for roasted or grilled vegetables such as carrots, parsnips or cauliflower.
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If you prefer more heat, increase the cayenne or add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Easy Moroccan Chermoula Sauce
5 from 2 reviews
Kathy McDaniel
A bright, herb-forward Moroccan sauce made in minutes with pantry spices and fresh herbs. Use it as a condiment, dip or marinade for seafood, chicken and roasted vegetables.
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Prep 10 minutes
Total 10 minutes
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Instructions
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In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine paprika, cinnamon, cayenne, cumin, salt, sugar and olive oil. Microwave for 20 seconds to release the spices’ aroma.
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Remove from the microwave, then stir in the chopped parsley, cilantro, minced garlic and lemon juice. Mix thoroughly and taste; adjust salt or heat if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 2076 kcal, Carbohydrates: 34 g, Protein: 7 g, Fat: 220 g, Saturated Fat: 30 g, Sodium: 1235 mg, Potassium: 749 mg, Fiber: 7 g, Sugar: 7 g, Vitamin A: 12460 IU, Vitamin C: 138 mg, Calcium: 201 mg, Iron: 12.8 mg
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