African Tomato Sauce Recipes

NORTH AFRICAN-STYLE POACHED EGGS IN TOMATO SAUCE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a large cast-iron skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and onions, cooking until the onions are translucent and the garlic is starting to slightly brown.
• Add the spices and harissa paste, cooking the spices until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes and tomato paste and cook for about 10-15 minutes until the sauce has thickened to the point where pressing down with a spoon leaves an indent that holds its shape.
• Taking the back of a large spoon, make 5 large indents into the sauce, using a left-to-right wiggling motion to ensure that the "walls" of the sauce are tall enough to hold an egg.
• Crack the eggs into each of the indents, then cook over low heat for about 15-20 minutes until the eggs are cooked to your liking.
• NOTE: To speed the process up, cover the skillet with a large lid.
• Sprinkle with chopped parsley, remove from heat, and serve with crusty bread to mop up all the sauce.
• Enjoy!

AFRICAN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a frying pan.
• Fry onions for a 3 minutes.
• Stir in all other ingredients.
• Add water as necessary to make a smooth sauce.
• Season to taste.
• Stir.
• Bring to a slow boil, reduce heat, simmer for ten minutes.
• Serve with grilled or roasted chicken, fish, or meat, or fried Plantains or Yams.

NORTH AFRICAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Heat oil over medium-high heat in a wide, heavy bottomed saucepan. Add onion and cook without browning until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, tomato paste, cinnamon and saffron, and stir well to incorporate. Season generously with salt and pepper, and allow to sizzle for 1 minute more. Add broth and simmer gently for 5 minutes. May be made several hours in advance, up to a day.
• Make the meatballs: Put bread cubes and milk in a small bowl. Leave bread to soak until softened, about 5 minutes, then squeeze dry.
• In a mixing bowl, put squeezed-out bread, ground meat and egg. Add salt, pepper, garlic, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric, paprika, cayenne, cloves, coriander and cumin. Mix well with hands to distribute seasoning. Add 2 tablespoons each of parsley, cilantro and scallion, and knead for a minute. May be prepared several hours in advance, up to a day.
• With hands, roll mixture into small round balls about the size of a quarter. Dust balls lightly with flour. Heat a few tablespoons of oil, or a quarter-inch depth, over medium-high heat and fry meatballs until barely browned, about 2 minutes per side. Drain and blot on paper towel. Simmer meatballs in saffron-tomato sauce, covered, over medium heat for about 20 minutes, until tender.
• Meanwhile, make the couscous, if desired: Cook according to package directions, fluff gently and stir in butter and raisins. Season with salt and cinnamon, and toss well.
• Garnish meatballs with remaining parsley, cilantro and scallion. Serve with couscous and roasted tomatoes if desired.

HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE I

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Have ready a large bowl of iced water. Plunge whole tomatoes in boiling water until skin starts to peel, 1 minute. Remove with slotted spoon and place in ice bath. Let rest until cool enough to handle, then remove peel and squeeze out seeds. Chop 8 tomatoes and puree in blender or food processor. Chop remaining two tomatoes and set aside.
• In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook onion, bell pepper, carrot and garlic in oil and butter until onion starts to soften, 5 minutes. Pour in pureed tomatoes. Stir in chopped tomato, basil, Italian seasoning and wine. Place bay leaf and whole celery stalks in pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 2 hours. Stir in tomato paste and simmer an additional 2 hours. Discard bay leaf and celery and serve.