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Silsi (Eritrean Tomato Sauce)
Silsi (Eritrean Tomato Sauce) is a traditional Eritrean recipe for a classic tomato, onion and chilli sauce flavoured with berbere spice. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic Eritrean version of: Eritrean Tomato Sauce (Silsi).
prep time
10 minutes
cook time
50 minutes
Total Time:
60 minutes
Serves:
4
Rating: 
Tags : Chilli RecipesSauce RecipesVegetarian RecipesSpice RecipesVegetable RecipesEritrea Recipes
This is a classic example of Italo-Eritrean cuisine arising from the Italian colonization of Eritrea. It's used as a base sauce and as its simplest is tossed with spaghetti to prepare Pasta al Sugo e Berbere. This recipe is the common base sauce, as prepared in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea.
Ingredients:
125ml sunflower oil (or other neutral-flavoured oil)
1 large red onion or 2 small, finely diced
1 carrot, scraped and finely diced
4 African birds' eye chillies, finely diced (adjust to taste)
1–2 tbsp
Berbere spice
1 tbsp tomato purée
1 large tomato or 1/2 tin (200ml) diced tomatoes
½ head garlic
½ tsp fine sea salt
½ tsp freshly-ground black pepper
1 tbsp freshly-squeezed lemon juice (optional)
Method:
Place a saucepan over medium heat. Once hot, add half the oil then add in the onion, carrot and chillies. Stir-fry the ingredients for about 10 minutes, or until softened and beginning to caramelize.
In the meantime, finely chop the tomato and mince the garlic.
Add 1–2 tbsp berbere spice to the saucepan (depending on taste) along with the tomato purée, Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute more then add in the tomato and garlic. Season to taste with the salt and black pepper then stir to combine.
Lower the heat to a minimum and simmer gently, uncovered, for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
When the tomatoes have broken down and the sauce is nicely thickened take off the heat then mix in 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice.
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