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Moroccan Zaalouk

Yields6 ServingsPrep Time15 minsCook Time40 minsTotal Time55 mins

A silky cooked salad of eggplant and tomatoes, with cumin, paprika, garlic and herbs.

Moroccan zaalouk cooked eggplant and tomato salad garnished with herbs on a white plate

Ingredients
 700 g eggplant, mostly peeled and cut into 2 cm cubes
 500 g ripe tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped
 3 tbsp olive oil
 15 g garlic, finely minced
 1 ½ tsp ground cumin
 1 ½ tsp sweet paprika
 ¾ tsp fine salt
 120 ml water
 2 tbsp fresh coriander, finely chopped
 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Directions
1

Place the cubed eggplant, tomatoes, olive oil and garlic in a wide heavy saucepan. Sprinkle in the cumin, paprika and salt, then pour in the measured water.

2

Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to prevent sticking.

3

Test a piece of eggplant with a fork. It should crush easily with no firm center; if needed, cover and cook for another 5 minutes before mashing.

4

Uncover and mash the vegetables with a wooden spoon or potato masher, leaving a little texture. Stir in the coriander and parsley.

5

Cook uncovered over low to medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until excess liquid evaporates and the mixture forms a thick, soft spread.

6

Stir in the lemon juice and remove from the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes, then serve warm or at room temperature with Moroccan bread for scooping.

Notes

This is a one-pot version of zaalouk, a Moroccan cooked salad often served as a dip with khobz. Peeling most of the eggplant gives a smoother texture; leave a few strips for color if preferred. Mash coarsely or cook down further for a smoother spread. Nutrition is estimated per one-sixth of the salad and excludes bread.

Nutrition Facts

6 servings

Serving size

1

Amount per serving
Calories110
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 7g9%

Saturated Fat 1g5%
Trans Fat 0g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.7g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 300mg14%
Total Carbohydrate 11g4%

Dietary Fiber 4g15%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 2g

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.