Quick Chermoula Sauce with Parsley, Cilantro, & Mint

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This 5-minute Chermoula Sauce recipe teaches the steps for making a classic homemade chermoula in a food processor or blender. Using a tested-and-perfected ratio of fresh cilantro, parsley
Similar to chimichurri, chermoula is packed with garlic & punchy fresh herbs (like cilantro, parsley, mint), but it also has a hint of warmth from spices common in North African & Middle Eastern cooking (cumin & coriander ftw!). It’s traditionally served over grilled fish...but I’m pretty sure once you have it you’ll want to put it on everythaaang. #playswellwithbutter #chermoula #chermoulasauce #morrocanfood #morrocanrecipes #marinaderecipe #easymarinade #grillingrecipes #chickenmarinade

An Easy 5-minute Chermoula Recipe

Don’t even say it! I know exactly what you’re thinking!

“What is chermoula?!?!”

Right?!

I mean, I don’t blame you at all – it’s certainly the thought that went through my mind the first time I heard of it. The easiest way to describe it? Chermoula is basically Moroccan chimichurri with a few key differences.

Similar to chimichurri, chermoula (pronounced “sher-moolah”) is packed with garlic & punchy fresh herbs (hello cilantro, parsley, mint), but it also has a hint of warmth from spices common in North African and Middle Eastern cooking (cumin & coriander ftw!). It’s traditionally served over grilled fish, but I’m pretty sure once you have it you’ll want to put it on everythaaang.

I fell in love with chermoula when I was working as a server at a lake resort in college. The chef kept it on our menu all summer long & it wasn’t long before I fell head over heels for it. It adds a sucker-punch of bright & punchy freshness to whatever you put it on. Plus, since it pretty much goes with anything, it’s another great all-purpose sauce to keep in your arsenal!

Key Ingredients

Similar to chimichurri, chermoula is packed with garlic & punchy fresh herbs (like cilantro, parsley, mint), but it also has a hint of warmth from spices common in North African & Middle Eastern cooking (cumin & coriander ftw!). It’s traditionally served over grilled fish...but I’m pretty sure once you have it you’ll want to put it on everythaaang. #playswellwithbutter #chermoula #chermoulasauce #morrocanfood #morrocanrecipes #marinaderecipe #easymarinade #grillingrecipes #chickenmarinade

This chermoula sauce is really easy to whip up, once you’ve got all of your ingredients on hand. aside from some fresh herbs, you just need some spices that you probably already have in your spice rack – nothing crazy here!

  • cilantro
  • parsley
  • mint
  • lemon
  • garlic
  • olive oil
  • ground coriander
  • ground cumin
  • smoked paprika
  • & a pinch of crushed red pepper flake (optional, but i love it!)
Similar to chimichurri, chermoula is packed with garlic & punchy fresh herbs (like cilantro, parsley, mint), but it also has a hint of warmth from spices common in North African & Middle Eastern cooking (cumin & coriander ftw!). It’s traditionally served over grilled fish...but I’m pretty sure once you have it you’ll want to put it on everythaaang. #playswellwithbutter #chermoula #chermoulasauce #morrocanfood #morrocanrecipes #marinaderecipe #easymarinade #grillingrecipes #chickenmarinade

Add all of the ingredients to a food processor with a splash of water & pulse to combine. Easy as that!

How to Use Chermoula Sauce

Turn to chermoula whenever you want to add a good pop of brightness & freshness to whatever you’re grilling. I’d challenge you to give it a try whenever you’re tempted to make pesto or chimichurri (for the zillionth time…).

Similar to chimichurri, chermoula is packed with garlic & punchy fresh herbs (like cilantro, parsley, mint), but it also has a hint of warmth from spices common in North African & Middle Eastern cooking (cumin & coriander ftw!). It’s traditionally served over grilled fish...but I’m pretty sure once you have it you’ll want to put it on everythaaang. #playswellwithbutter #chermoula #chermoulasauce #morrocanfood #morrocanrecipes #marinaderecipe #easymarinade #grillingrecipes #chickenmarinade

A Few Favorite Pairings to Try Include:

  • drizzled overtop grilled fish or shrimp (that’s how it’s traditionally used in North African cuisine!)
  • grilled chicken
  • grilled pork chops
  • tossed into your favorite summery salad
  • slathered on a grilled burger or turkey burger
Similar to chimichurri, chermoula is packed with garlic & punchy fresh herbs (like cilantro, parsley, mint), but it also has a hint of warmth from spices common in North African & Middle Eastern cooking (cumin & coriander ftw!). It’s traditionally served over grilled fish...but I’m pretty sure once you have it you’ll want to put it on everythaaang. #playswellwithbutter #chermoula #chermoulasauce #morrocanfood #morrocanrecipes #marinaderecipe #easymarinade #grillingrecipes #chickenmarinade

My ideal plate? ⇢ Use it Twice! My personal favorite way to put this chermoula sauce recipe to use is to let it do double duty at dinnertime. Use it as a marinade for some juicy chicken thighs but also reserve some to use as an easy dressing for a quinoa salad. Grill the chicken over medium-high heat until charred & serve alongside the chermoula quinoa salad (with add-ins like bell pepper, cucumber, tomatoes, chickpeas & golden raisins). So flavorful and so good.

I can’t wait for you to try this Quick Chermoula Recipe! It adds a burst of bright goodness to everything it touches. If you do give it a try, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! ♡

Want more marinades for grilling season? Got you covered! Check out PWWB’s 15 Go-To Grilling Marinades. Happy grilling!

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Similar to chimichurri, chermoula is packed with garlic & punchy fresh herbs (like cilantro, parsley, mint), but it also has a hint of warmth from spices common in North African & Middle Eastern cooking (cumin & coriander ftw!). It’s traditionally served over grilled fish...but I’m pretty sure once you have it you’ll want to put it on everythaaang. #playswellwithbutter #chermoula #chermoulasauce #morrocanfood #morrocanrecipes #marinaderecipe #easymarinade #grillingrecipes #chickenmarinade

Quick Chermoula Sauce with Parsley, Cilantro, & Mint

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  • Author: Jess Larson
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cup 1x
  • Category: Sauces & Condiments
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: Moroccan
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

This 5-minute Chermoula Sauce recipe teaches the steps for making a classic homemade chermoula in a food processor or blender. Using a tested-and-perfected ratio of fresh cilantroparsley and mint, lemon garlic, select spices, and olive oil. This easy chermoula recipe has perfect texture–it’s not too oily or too dry. Drizzle the versatile green sauce over fish, grilled meats or grilled veggies, and so much more!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds meat or veggies of choice
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 cups packed cilantro leaves
  • 1 cup packed parsley leaves
  • ¼ cup packed mint leaves
  • 1 large lemon, zested & juiced
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • optional: pinch crushed red chili flake

Instructions

  1. Blend the chermoula sauce: Add all listed ingredients to the bowl of a food processor. Blend to combine, just until very fine pieces of the fresh herbs remain. Use immediately, or transfer to a jar or airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
  2. Marinate: Pour the chermoula sauce marinade over your meat or veggies of choice. Marinate for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
  3. Grill as desired. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Chermoula doubles as a really great salad dressing: I know we’re talking all about grilling marinades here, but drizzling chermoula all over a big, fresh summery salad will NEVER do you wrong. Pinky promise.
  • Meal prep tip: Chermoula sauce holds up really freaking well, aka it’s the perfect thing to meal prep at the beginning of the week & proceed to put on everythaaang throughout the week. In fact, storing it in a jar or airtight container in the refrigerator really helps the flavors meld together even more! You can’t go wrong with a jar of chermoula sauce in your fridge!

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Hi there, I'm Jess!

If there’s 1 thing to know about me, it’s this: I am head-over-heels in love with food. I’m on a mission to make weeknight cooking flavorful, fast, & fun for other foodies, & PWWB is where I share foolproof recipes that deliver major flavor with minimal effort. Other true loves: pretty shoes, puppies, Grey’s Anatomy, & my cozy kitchen in Minneapolis, MN.

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Comments

  1. 4.28.20
    Ariella said:

    I actually never ask substitution questions buuuuut I feel like the best part of these types of marinades it how fresh it tastes. I know I could *technically* skip the mint, but I don’t wanna…would you vote skip or add some dried mint? I feel like this is the kind of marinade that is sunshine on a rainy (quarantine) day and want to do it up!