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Kosa bel salsa (courgettes in tomato sauce)
كوسة بالصلصة (kosa bel salsa): courgette rounds stewed in garlicky tomato with dill
The pale green Egyptian kosa is shorter and sweeter than a supermarket courgette, and in summer Delta towns like Tanta cook it in tomato sauce several times a week. This vegan version keeps the rounds just soft enough to hold together, in a light sauce with garlic and a handful of dill. It is light enough for a hot evening, eaten with rice or torn baladi bread. The classic mistake is stirring too hard so the courgettes collapse into mush; shake the pan instead. Chef's tip: if you can find pale Middle Eastern courgettes, use them; they hold their shape better and taste nuttier.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 4 garliccloves, crushed
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 4 ripe tomatoesgrated, skins discarded
- ¾ cup water
- 1 ½ lb courgettescut into 1.5 cm rounds
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ⅓ oz dillchopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Warm 2 tbsp sunflower oil over a medium heat and fry 1 onion until soft and lightly golden.
6 minStep 2: Add 4 garlic and 1 tbsp tomato paste and stir for a minute.
2 minStep 3: Add 4 ripe tomatoes, ¾ cup water, 1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper and simmer for 5 minutes into a loose sauce.
5 minStep 4: Add 1 ½ lb courgettes, cover and cook on a low heat, shaking the pan rather than stirring, until a round is tender when pierced but still holds its shape.
15 minStep 5: Scatter over ⅓ oz dill, shake once more and serve.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 130 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 15 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kosa bel salsa (courgettes in tomato sauce) take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- 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.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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