This matbucha recipe is impressed by basic Moroccan variations and is melt-in-your-mouth incredible. Savory, spicy, and thick, it’s a daring condiment or dip that’s as nutritious as it’s scrumptious! It’s a type of price it recipes!
This recipe can also be gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and vegetarian, making it excellent for serving a crowd!

What’s Matbucha?
Matbucha is a spicy tomato dip well-liked in North Africa that can also be well-liked in Israel. It’s SO good! Generally known as a tomato salsa or tomato relish, the dish is a kind of condiment made with tomatoes, spicy peppers, garlic, olive oil, and paprika. It’s like a Mediterranean salsa if you’ll!
My household loves it as an appetizer or aspect dish, and I usually serve it as a dip alongside veggies, crackers, and challah bread! Nevertheless, it’s additionally nice as an expansion with sandwiches and wraps, or spooned over rice bowls! At any time when I make it, household and mates merely can not cease devouring it! It takes a bit to come back collectively (principally palms off), however is a price it recipe for certain!
I make it most frequently in the summertime months when the tomatoes and peppers are ample, however discover myself making it every time we now have company over as a result of it’s simply that particular!
What’s the distinction between matbucha and shakshuka?
The 2 dishes are related. In reality, matbucha can be utilized as a base for shakshuka. Nevertheless, the first variations are that shakshuka accommodates eggs and is supposed to be served as a most important course, whereas matbucha is egg-free and loved as a condiment or dip.

Elements and Notes
*Scroll all the way down to the recipe card for the complete recipe and ingredient listing!
- Eggplant: That is non-compulsory, and never conventional, however it’s a enjoyable addition, and offers an pretty taste, and a chunkier texture.
- Bell Peppers: I sometimes use recent crimson bell peppers. Nevertheless, I’ve additionally examined this recipe with jarred roasted crimson peppers, they usually work nicely, eliminating a step within the cooking course of. Simply be sure that to empty them nicely!
- Jalapeños: I take advantage of two jalapeños, however you’ll be able to at all times add extra should you love spice. Be certain to take away the membrane and seeds earlier than dicing.
- Garlic: This can be a staple ingredient within the dish! Use an entire head of garlic, not pre-minced cloves.
- Tomatoes: A mix of plum tomatoes and grape tomatoes creates the daring, asvory taste and jammy consistency we wish. I desire recent tomatoes. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to substitute canned if wanted. Simply observe that you simply’ll possible must simmer the dish longer and add sugar to stability the acidity.
- Spiced Oil: Mix further virgin olive oil and paprika to create a thinner consistency and improve the flavour. It additionally acts as a preservative, conserving the matbucha brisker longer.
How one can Make Matbucha
- Peel the tomatoes: Rating the surface of every tomato, and soak them in a bowl of boiling water. Rigorously peel and discard the skins.
- Sauté the peppers: Warmth olive oil in a pan, and sauté the diced peppers till softened. Add minced garlic, and proceed to cook dinner till aromatic. I like to do that as a substitute of peeling the peppers as known as for in lots of recipes. It creates an identical style and texture with lots much less work!



- Simmer: Add the peeled tomatoes and halved grape tomatoes to the peppers together with jalapeños, garlic, sugar, chili flakes, and salt. Boil over medium warmth. Then, scale back the warmth to low, and simmer, uncovered, till a lot of the liquid evaporates. The combination must be thick and jammy! It takes time, but it surely’s price it!



- Add seasoned oil: Whisk olive oil and paprika in a small bowl, and pour it into the pan. Let the combination cook dinner to meld the flavors, stirring ceaselessly.
- Serve: Alter the seasonings to style, let the matbucha cool, and luxuriate in heat, at room temperature, or chilled!


Serving Strategies
I at all times serve this matbucha recipe as a dip with gluten-free crackers, hummus, veggies, pita bread, and challah. Nevertheless, it additionally makes for a tasty unfold with sandwiches and wraps! I’ve even served it it spooned over salads or rice bowls.
Spoon it over:
How one can Retailer
As soon as cool, switch leftovers to an hermetic container and retailer it within the fridge for as much as one week. Or, freeze for as much as 3 months! To serve, thaw frozen matbucha within the fridge. Then, get pleasure from it chilly, deliver it to room temperature, or gently heat it in a saucepan over medium warmth.

Extra Dips To Strive
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- 2 crimson bell peppers diced (or use jarred roasted peppers, drained and chopped)
- 2 jalapeños seeded and finely minced (use extra for further warmth)
- 1 complete head of garlic cloves peeled and minced
- 8 tomatoes whole — a mixture of 6 recent plum Roma tomatoes, halved, and 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved (or use one massive cans of diced tomatoes- however see observe)
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes modify to style
- 1 teaspoons sugar cane sugar, beet sugar, and many others.
- ½ teaspoon sea salt plus extra to style
- ⅓ cup further virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- Elective: 1 small eggplant diced (see observe)
Peel the Tomatoes (you’ll be able to omit this step, however I don’t like all of the skins)
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Utilizing a pointy paring knife, rating the surface of every tomato about 5 instances. Place all of the tomatoes in a bowl and pour boiling water over them. Allow them to sit for 10–quarter-hour. The recent water will assist the skins peel off simply.
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Omit this step if utilizing canned tomatoes.
Sauté the Peppers (I do that as a substitute of roasting and peeling — works nice!)
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In a deep pan, warmth a drizzle of olive oil. Add the diced crimson or orange peppers and sauté for about 8–10 minutes, till softened. Add the minced garlic and cook dinner for one more minute, till aromatic.
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Omit this if utilizing jarred roasted peppers.
Mix and Simmer
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Add the peeled plum tomatoes and halved grape tomatoes to the pan with the peppers, jalapeños, garlic, sugar, chili flakes, and salt. If utilizing canned tomatoes or jarred peppers, add them right here as a substitute of the peeled. Deliver to a boil over medium warmth.
Sluggish Cook dinner
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Scale back the warmth to medium-low so the combination maintains a delicate simmer. Cook dinner uncovered for 65–75 minutes, stirring each 10 minutes, till a lot of the liquid has evaporated and the combination is thick and jammy.
Add the Seasoned Oil
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In a small bowl, whisk collectively the olive oil and paprika. Pour into the pan and stir. Proceed to cook dinner for about 30 extra minutes, stirring each 5 minutes.
Style and Alter
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Style for seasoning and modify as wanted — extra chili flakes for warmth, extra salt for stability, or a small drizzle of honey if the flavour is simply too bitter. If utilizing roasted eggplant, stir it in throughout the ultimate 10 minutes of cooking.
Cool and Serve
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Take away from warmth and let cool utterly. Serve at room temperature, heat, or chilled. Serve with crackers, hummus, veggies, and challah! Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as one week, or freeze for as much as 3 months.
Elective: Eggplant
If utilizing eggplant, Step 1 can be to Roast the Diced Eggplant: Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss the diced eggplant with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Unfold on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast for 25–half-hour, tossing as soon as midway by way of, till golden and tender. Put aside.
Storage:
- Switch leftovers to an hermetic container, and retailer them within the fridge for as much as 3 days or within the freezer for as much as 3 months.
- Thaw frozen matbucha within the fridge. Take pleasure in it chilly, deliver it to room temperature, or gently heat it in a saucepan over medium warmth.
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 117kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 2gFats: 9gSaturated Fats: 1gPolyunsaturated Fats: 1gMonounsaturated Fats: 7gSodium: 248mgPotassium: 392mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1626IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg
