Moroccan · Condiment
Matisha Mhlowa (Sweet Tomato Jam with Honey)
Matisha mhlowa — literally 'sweet tomatoes' — is a jammy, spiced tomato reduction cooked down with honey, cinnamon and toasted sesame until dark and sticky. It is the traditional partner to mechoui and grilled kefta, a sweet-savoury relish that turns roast meat into a feast. Some cooks finish it with fried almonds for crunch.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 60 min
- Total
- 75 min
- Serves
- 6
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
- 1.5 kg ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon (plus a stick)
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- Pinch of saffron (optional)
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 50 g fried almonds (optional)
- Salt
Method
- 1
Reduce the tomatoes
Cook the tomatoes with the oil, cinnamon stick, ginger, saffron and a pinch of salt over medium heat, stirring often, until most of the water has cooked off — about 40 minutes.
- 2
Sweeten
Stir in the honey and ground cinnamon and keep cooking gently until the mixture turns dark, thick and jammy and a spoon drawn across the pan leaves a clear trail — another 15–20 minutes.
- 3
Finish
Fold in most of the sesame seeds and taste for the honey-cinnamon balance.
- 4
Serve
Spoon into a dish, scatter with the last sesame and the fried almonds, and serve warm or at room temperature beside roast lamb, mechoui or grilled kefta.
Chef's tips
- Stir often as it thickens — the honey and reduced tomato catch and burn easily near the end.
- Peel the tomatoes for a smooth jam; the skins otherwise curl into tough flecks.
- It keeps well chilled for several days and firms up further — loosen with a splash of water if needed.
Frequently asked questions
What is matisha mhlowa served with?
It is the classic sweet relish for grilled and roast meats — mechoui, kefta skewers, roast lamb. The sweet-spiced tomato cuts the richness of the meat beautifully.
Is it a jam or a sauce?
Somewhere between: a thick, sticky, spoonable confit rather than a pourable sauce or a set preserve. Cook it down until it mounds on the spoon.