Tamatem Mekhalila, or pickled tomatoes, is a typical Egyptian dish that bursts with flavors. The tomatoes in this dish get a royal treatment as they are dressed up by a garlicky, zesty, and tangy marinade.
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This recipe came in so handy when I moved to DC.
Tomatoes in the East coast are infamous for being hard and flavorless. They are usually shipped all the way from California or elsewhere and they are usually chosen hard to survive the trip.
This recipe consists of just two parts: tomatoes and marinade. Paradoxically, the marinade is the hero ingredient as it jazzes up the tomatoes.
This pickled tomatoes dish is made in no time but has a lasting impact on people who try it for the first time. Mekhalila means pickled and Tamatem means tomatoes in Arabic.
What is Tamatem Mekhalila or Pickled Tomatoes?
Don’t be deceived by the name of this Egyptian dish. There is no complicated fermentation required here. It is simply a bold marinade poured over tomatoes and kept in the fridge for a few hours before it is served as an appetizer or a side dish.
This simple yet flavorsome dish uses basic and affordable ingredients and can be pulled together in no more than 15 minutes.
This recipe is great to use with hard tomatoes that lack flavor as the marinade will amp up their flavors.
How to make Tamatem Mekhalila
Making this typical Egyptian appetizer can’t be easier. Watch this step by step recipe on my Instagram account @cheznermine.
Start this recipe by making the marinade which uses vinegar, lime juice, garlic, salt and pepper, and a couple of spices. Preferably, choose hard tomatoes for this recipe. Quarter the tomatoes and then pour the marinade on top.
Keep the tomatoes in an airtight container and let it stay in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight, before you serve it.
Health Benefits
According to Health.com: “Tomatoes are low in calories and provide important nutrients like vitamin C and potassium. They’re also rich in antioxidants—one called lycopene, responsible for tomatoes’ characteristic color, is linked to several benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers.”
Success Tips
- Preferably use hard tomatoes for this recipe.
Make-Ahead & Freezer Friendly
You can make the marinade one or two days ahead and pour it on the tomatoes later.
How to Serve
Serve these pickled tomatoes as an appetizer or as a side dish.
Check Out More Recipes On My Blog
You might also like these vegan Levantine recipes:
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Disclaimer:Chez Nermine blog is an Amazon Associate. We earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Our commission doesn’t affect the price of the product you purchase.
Tamatem Mekhalila (Egyptian Pickled Tomatoes)
INGREDIENTS
- 4-5 tomatoes, any type of your preference, quartered
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/4 cup mixed dill, chives, parsley, and fresh mint
- 1 teaspoon sumac
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mint
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne or 1 green chili, optional
- 2 shallots or 2 spring onions
- Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
- Make the marinade: Dump all the ingredients except the tomatoes in the container of a food processor and run the machine until you have a smooth paste. Taste the marinade and adjust the seasoning.
- Pickle the tomatoes: Add the marinade over the tomatoes, and keep it in the fridge for 1 hour so all the flavors will meld together.
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Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Nermine’s Notes:
- If the tomatoes are flavorless where you live, I strongly recommend that you apply this recipe on them. You will be pleasantly surprised.