Slata Mechouia | Tunisian Grilled Pepper Salad

Slata Mechouia | Tunisian Grilled Pepper Salad is  one of the most popular and traditional foods served in Tunisia.  If you love dips and are always looking for something different, this is excellent. The combination of peppers, once grilled gives a unique and delicious flavor as well as enticing aroma. Slata Mechouia, pronounced ( S-lata Meshweeya) means ‘Grilled Salad’ in Arabic, but it is more of a grilled salsa than a salad.

Serve with traditional Arabic, or North African breads or toasted pita. According to the variety of peppers used, it can range from mild to spicy, however, the milder ones are more common and preferred.  It is customary to top the salad with flaked tuna, olives and boiled egg.. I was skeptical at the addition of tuna but it actually works with the spicy, grilled sweetness of the peppers. Serve with traditional Arabic, or North African breads or toasted pita.

An extremely popular appetizer in Tunisian homes and restaurants.. this is one of my posts honoring all the people I have met from across the world and their wonderful cuisines. Thanks to my high school friend Nadege, for some lovely Tunisian Recipes.

Slata Mechouia | Tunisian Grilled Pepper Salad

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Ingredients:

• 2 large green bell peppers (green capsicum)
• 2 large red bell peppers (red capsicum)
• 2 long red chillies
• 2 long green chillies
• 4 large cloves of garlic
• 1 tomato
• 2 boiled eggs
• a dozen black olives, pitted
• 3-4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 can of tuna (flakes in OLIVE oil)
• ½ tsp ground caraway / shahjeera and
• salt and pepper to taste

Method:

• Preheat oven to 240ºC / 475ºF (Very hot).
• Cut the peppers and chillIies in half and remove seeds.
• 
• Cut the tomato in half too. Rinse and pat dry all the vegetables.
• 
• Line a baking tray with foil and drizzle with olive oil.
• Place the halved vegetables and whole cloves of garlic in one layer and drizzle more olive oil over them.
• 
• Place in the oven , at broiling position (upper rack) and grill for 40-50 minutes, till vegetables are very soft and charred.
• 
• Peel away any charred skin from the vegetables and discard.
• 
• Put the grilled vegetables as well as any juices collected in the pan into a blender.
• Blend till a uniform consistency is achieves. (Not super smooth).
• Add the ground caraway, salt and pepper to taste and mix.
• Spread the contents from the blender in a serving bowl.
• Pour olive oil over the surface. Garnish with black olives, sliced egg and the flaked tuna.
• Serve with any Arabic style Pitta bread or toasted/ crusty wholemeal bread.

Slata Mechouia | Tunisian Grilled Pepper Salad

• Buy tuna packed in olive oil as opposed to tuna in sunflower oil.. It provides best flavor for this recipe.
• Instead of using a blender, you can use two chef knifes to chop it finely, like they do at the roadside eateries. You can also use a traditional pestle and mortar to mash the peppers.

Key Ingredients: Bell Pepper, Chilli, Olive oil, Garlic, Tomato, Caraway, Salt, Pepper, Egg, Tuna, Black Olives.

Leave a comment if you tried – Slata Mechouia | Tunisian Grilled Pepper Salad .