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Rougaille
Mauritian spiced tomato sauce with thyme and chilli, with eggs (rougaille zeufs)
Rougaille is the Creole tomato sauce at the heart of Mauritian home cooking, made in every kitchen from Port Louis to Mahébourg and also in the Seychelles and Réunion. Tomatoes are cooked down with onion, garlic, ginger, thyme and chilli until thick, and then something is simmered in it: sausages, salted fish, or, in many homes on a weeknight, hard-boiled eggs. Serve with rice, lentils (dholl) and chatini. Chef's tip: cook the tomatoes until the oil separates at the edges; watery rougaille tastes thin.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Boil 8 eggs for 9 minutes, cool in cold water and peel.
10 minStep 2: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Cook 1 onion for 5 minutes until soft, then add 4 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp fresh ginger, 4 sprigs fresh thyme and 1 red chilli and cook for 1 minute.
6 minStep 3: Add 6 ripe tomatoes, 1 tbsp tomato paste and 1 tsp salt. Cook for 12–15 minutes, crushing the tomatoes, until thick and the oil separates at the edges. Common mistake: covering the pan — the sauce stays watery.
15 minStep 4: Halve the eggs, nestle them in the sauce cut side up and simmer for 3 minutes, spooning sauce over.
3 minStep 5: Scatter with 3 spring onions and 2 tbsp fresh coriander and serve with rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 280 kcal
- Protein
- 14 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 21 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does rougaille take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 25 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 vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- 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 eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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