Chermoula
Image: Tatiana Yalovaya · CC BY-SA 3.0
A greenish, intensely herbal North African marinade sauce made by combining fresh coriander, garlic, cumin, red pepper, and olive oil. The traditional accompaniment to fish and seafood.
What Is Chermoula?
Chermoula is a North African marinade sauce made by blending fresh coriander and parsley with garlic, cumin, red pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil. It has been known in Moroccan, Tunisian, and Algerian cuisines for centuries.
Its color is dark green, its smell is fresh, herbal, and spicy; it can be used both as a marinade and a serving sauce, before and after cooking.
Nutritional Value of Chermoula
100 grams of chermoula contains about 250 kcal of energy; it carries fat from the olive oil and small amounts of vitamins from the fresh herbs. Values vary by recipe and are approximate.
How Should Chermoula Be Consumed?
Chermoula is consumed as part of a balanced diet, as a marinade and serving accompaniment, in moderate amounts.
This information is general; chermoula is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.
How to Choose Chermoula?
For homemade chermoula, good ingredients are coriander and parsley in a fresh-vivid green color, and garlic that is firm-fresh. In ready-made products, the color should be dark green and the smell fresh.
- The color should be dark green, not darkened-faded
- The smell should be fresh, herbal-spicy, not sour
- The ingredient list should show a high proportion of fresh herbs
How to Store Chermoula?
Chermoula keeps its freshness for a few days in a closed container in the refrigerator; since it contains fresh herbs, storing it for a long time is not recommended.
Using Chermoula in the Kitchen
Chermoula is most often used in marinating fish and seafood, in grilled chicken and vegetables, and as a serving sauce over cooked dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are chermoula and chimichurri the same thing?
No; both work on the logic of a fresh-herb marinade sauce, but chermoula originates from North Africa and is dominated by coriander-cumin, while chimichurri originates from Argentina and is dominated by parsley-oregano.
Can chermoula be made at home?
Yes; fresh coriander-parsley, garlic, cumin, red pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil can easily be prepared by blending or grinding in a mortar.
Is chermoula found in Turkey?
It is not common as a ready-made product; it is generally prepared at home with fresh ingredients, and can sometimes be found in gourmet markets.