Moroccan Pepper and Tomato Salad (Taktouka)
- Makes6 to 8 servings
- Cook Time1 hour
- Active time plus cooling15 minutes active
The popular Moroccan salad called taktouka is not a toss of fresh vegetables to be served chilled. Rather, it’s a mix of bell peppers, tomatoes, garlic, spices and olive oil that is gently stewed until the textures become soft and velvety and the flavors fuse. Chunky and relish-like, it is commonly served warm or at room temperature alongside the Moroccan bread known as khobz. Our taktouka is based on the recipe taught to us by Houda Mehdi, a home cook who resides in Fes, in northeastern Morocco. Mehdi cooks hers in a clay pot with a lavish amount of olive oil; we use a Dutch oven. To be efficient, prep the tomatoes and garlic while the peppers cook. The salad will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days—in fact, the taste improves over time—but bring it to room temperature before serving.
Don’t try to speed the cooking by cranking up the heat. Slow, gentle stewing ensures that the vegetables become silky-soft in texture and that their flavors remain pure and bright. If the vegetables are fully softened but still watery after 25 to 30 minutes of stewing, remove the lid and cook for about another 5 minutes to evaporate some of the moisture, but be careful not to overdo it so the taktouka does not wind up mushy.
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