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Dagga

Dagga: Gaza's fiery pounded tomato, dill and chilli salad

Dagga, sometimes called salata ghazawiyya, is the salad that sits on every table in Gaza, pounded in a clay bowl (zibdiya) with a wooden pestle until the tomatoes collapse into a juicy, chunky relish. Fresh dill, green chilli, garlic and lemon make it sharper and hotter than any salad in the north, and it is spooned over fish, rice and grilled meat or scooped up with bread. Common mistake: using a blender, which turns it into a smooth sauce; you want broken pieces in their own juice. Chef's tip: pound the garlic, chilli and salt to a paste first, then add the dill, so its oils bloom before the tomatoes go in.
Total time
15 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

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What you'll need

Fresh ingredients (5)

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Method

0/4 done
  1. Step 1: In a large mortar or heavy bowl, pound 2 cloves garlic, 2 green chillies and ¾ tsp salt to a coarse paste.

  2. Step 2: Add ⅔ oz fresh dill and pound for 30 seconds until it darkens and smells strong.

  3. Step 3: Add 1 ⅓ lb ripe tomatoes a handful at a time and pound lightly until they break up and release their juice but some chunks remain.

  4. Step 4: Stir in 3 tbsp lemon juice and pour 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil over the top. Serve within the hour, at room temperature.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
110 kcal
Protein
2 g
Carbs
8 g
Fat
9 g
Fibre
2 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

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Good to know

How long does dagga take?
About 15 minutes in total.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegan?
Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
Is it very spicy?
It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
What can I use instead of garlic?
½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
What can I use instead of ripe tomatoes?
Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).

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