James Beard Award–winning chef and cookbook author Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipe for shatta sauce is quick to prepare and only requires a handful of ingredients. Learn more about the popular chili sauce before you make your first batch. 

Chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s Quick Shatta Sauce Recipe

Shatta is a popular chili sauce throughout the Middle East, especially in Lebanese, Jordanian, Syrian, and Palestinian cooking. Shatta is traditionally made by pounding fresh red or green chilies with salt and allowing them to ferment in the sun for a few days before combining them with extra-virgin [olive oil](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/complete-olive-oil-guide), spices, and herbs. 

More contemporary iterations of the Middle Eastern sauce call for mixing ingredients in the food processor and letting them naturally ferment in a sterilized jar at room temperature. You can add [apple cider vinegar](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-the-uses-for-apple-cider-vinegar) or lemon juice to the sauce to achieve an acidic balance and herbs and spices like cilantro, cumin, and black pepper to boost flavor. 

The gluten-free sauce has a similar usage to hot sauce, another popular condiment made from chilies. Spoon shatta sauce over any dish you want to spice up, including sandwiches, [hummus](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-the-best-hummus), rice, kebabs, roasted vegetables, and soups.
There are many ways to use shatta sauce in your cooking, including:

1. __As a condiment__: The most common way to use shatta is as a condiment. Add a teaspoon or two to sandwiches, rice, burgers, kebabs, or [falafel](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/quick-and-easy-homemade-falafel-recipe-how-to-make-and-serve-homemade-falafel).
2. __As a dipping sauce__: Use shatta as a dipping sauce for your mezze platter or serve it with fresh tortilla chips for a quick appetizer or snack.
3. __As a dressing__: Add a couple of tablespoons of shatta to [vinaigrette](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-a-classic-vinaigrette-with-chef-thomas-keller) for a dressing with a burst of heat. Use shatta dressing to add a kick to a bistro salad, pasta salad, or a classic [Greek salad.](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-greek-salad) Pairing the hot shatta with chilled salad ingredients will create a dynamic bite.
4. __As a garnish__: Shatta is similar in consistency to Italian [pesto](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-basil-pesto-easy-recipe-and-tips-for-making-perfect-pesto), an all-purpose table sauce that consists of fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, and cheese pounded together into a thick, green paste. Like pesto, you can use shatta to garnish or top grilled chicken breasts or pasta dishes. 
James Beard Award–winning chef and cookbook author Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipe for shatta sauce is quick to prepare and only requires a handful of ingredients. Learn more about the popular chili sauce before you make your first batch. 

Shatta is a popular chili sauce throughout the Middle East, especially in Lebanese, Jordanian, Syrian, and Palestinian cooking. Shatta is traditionally made by pounding fresh red or green chilies with salt and allowing them to ferment in the sun for a few days before combining them with extra-virgin <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/complete-olive-oil-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/complete-olive-oil-guide","linkCopy":"olive oil","category":null}'>olive oil</a>, spices, and herbs. More contemporary iterations of the Middle Eastern sauce call for mixing ingredients in the food processor and letting them naturally ferment in a sterilized jar at room temperature. You can add <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-the-uses-for-apple-cider-vinegar' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-the-uses-for-apple-cider-vinegar","linkCopy":"apple cider vinegar","category":null}'>apple cider vinegar</a> or lemon juice to the sauce to achieve an acidic balance and herbs and spices like cilantro, cumin, and black pepper to boost flavor. The gluten-free sauce has a similar usage to hot sauce, another popular condiment made from chilies. Spoon shatta sauce over any dish you want to spice up, including sandwiches, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-the-best-hummus' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-the-best-hummus","linkCopy":"hummus","category":null}'>hummus</a>, rice, kebabs, roasted vegetables, and soups.

What Is Shatta Sauce?

There are many ways to use shatta sauce in your cooking, including:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. As a condiment: The most common way to use shatta is as a condiment. Add a teaspoon or two to sandwiches, rice, burgers, kebabs, or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/quick-and-easy-homemade-falafel-recipe-how-to-make-and-serve-homemade-falafel' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/quick-and-easy-homemade-falafel-recipe-how-to-make-and-serve-homemade-falafel","linkCopy":"falafel","category":null}'>falafel</a>. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. As a dipping sauce: Use shatta as a dipping sauce for your mezze platter or serve it with fresh tortilla chips for a quick appetizer or snack. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. As a dressing: Add a couple of tablespoons of shatta to <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-a-classic-vinaigrette-with-chef-thomas-keller' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-a-classic-vinaigrette-with-chef-thomas-keller","linkCopy":"vinaigrette","category":null}'>vinaigrette</a> for a dressing with a burst of heat. Use shatta dressing to add a kick to a bistro salad, pasta salad, or a classic <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-greek-salad' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-greek-salad","linkCopy":"Greek salad.","category":null}'>Greek salad.</a> Pairing the hot shatta with chilled salad ingredients will create a dynamic bite. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. As a garnish: Shatta is similar in consistency to Italian <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-basil-pesto-easy-recipe-and-tips-for-making-perfect-pesto' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-basil-pesto-easy-recipe-and-tips-for-making-perfect-pesto","linkCopy":"pesto","category":null}'>pesto</a>, an all-purpose table sauce that consists of fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, and cheese pounded together into a thick, green paste. Like pesto, you can use shatta to garnish or top grilled chicken breasts or pasta dishes. </li></ol>

4 Ways to Use Shatta Sauce

Chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s Quick Shatta Recipe

James Beard Award–winning chef and cookbook author Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipe for shatta sauce is quick to prepare and only requires a handful of ingredients. Learn more about the popular chili sauce before you make your first batch.

James Beard Award–winning chef and cookbook author Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipe for shatta sauce is quick to prepare and only requires a handful of ingredients. Learn more about the popular chili sauce before you make your first batch. 
