Dagga Gazawiya (Gaza Tomato, Chili and Dill Salad)
Local name: دقة غزاوية
In short: Ripe tomatoes crushed with garlic, fresh hot chili and dill, finished with olive oil and lemon, a fiery, juicy salad to scoop up with bread. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 10 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 125 kcal
Dagga is the fiery tomato salad of Gaza, traditionally crushed rather than chopped in a clay bowl with a wooden pestle. Ripe tomatoes are bruised with garlic and fresh hot chilies, then finished with dill, olive oil and a squeeze of lemon right before serving. It is eaten as a dip or relish with flatbread, falafel, fried fish and grilled meat. Make it when tomatoes are at their sweetest.
Instructions
- Crush the garlic, chilies and salt together in a mortar or in a bowl with the back of a spoon until you have a rough paste.
- Add the diced tomatoes and press them lightly so some juice releases while leaving small pieces whole.
- Stir in the dill, olive oil and lemon juice.
- Leave for 10 minutes so the flavors blend, then taste for salt, lemon and heat.
- Serve in a shallow bowl with flatbread for scooping.
Tips
- Use the ripest, most flavorful tomatoes you can find. Out of season, add a pinch of sugar to bring out their sweetness.
- Do not let the salad stand much longer than the 10-minute rest once the lemon juice is in, so the tomatoes keep their fresh color. Red chilies work too, and a little crushed dill seed adds an old-fashioned note.
Questions and answers
What do you eat dagga with?
Flatbread, falafel, fried or grilled fish, and grilled meat. It also works as a fiery topping for eggs.
How spicy is dagga?
It is meant to be hot. Remove the chili seeds and use one chili for a milder version.
Can I make it ahead?
It is best fresh but keeps for 1 day in the fridge. It will release more juice, so drain a little before serving.
How long does it take to make Dagga Gazawiya (Gaza Tomato, Chili and Dill Salad)?
About 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Dagga Gazawiya (Gaza Tomato, Chili and Dill Salad)?
About 125 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 7 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 125 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 580 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
