Moroccan · Salads & Sides
Tiktouka (Safi-Style Roasted Pepper Salad)
Safi's version of the classic cooked pepper salad leans a little more heavily on garlic and cumin than its Meknes cousin, the peppers roasted until soft and sweet, then simmered down with tomato into a thick, deeply savoury spread eaten with the city's famous grilled sardines.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Serves
- 4
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
- 5 green peppers, roasted and peeled
- 4 ripe tomatoes, grated
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1.5 tsp cumin, 1 tsp paprika
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- Small bunch coriander, chopped
- Salt
Method
- 1
Roast and peel the peppers
Roast the peppers over a flame or under a hot grill until blackened all over, steam covered for 10 minutes, then peel, seed and chop.
- 2
Build the base
Warm the oil in a pan, soften the garlic with the cumin and paprika, then add the grated tomato and cook 10 minutes to a thick sauce.
- 3
Combine
Stir in the chopped roasted peppers and simmer together a further 12–15 minutes until thick and well combined.
- 4
Finish
Stir in most of the coriander and season with salt.
- 5
Serve
Serve warm or at room temperature, scattered with the last coriander, alongside grilled sardines or bread.
Chef's tips
- Cook off all the liquid so the tiktouka is thick enough to spoon onto bread without running.
- Extra garlic and cumin compared to other regional versions is what gives Safi's tiktouka its punch.
- It keeps well chilled for a few days and tastes even better the next day.
Frequently asked questions
What is tiktouka traditionally served with?
In Safi, famous for its sardine fishery, tiktouka is the classic accompaniment to grilled or fried sardines, its garlicky sweetness balancing the oily fish.
Is tiktouka the same as taktouka?
They are regional spellings and slight variations of the same cooked pepper-and-tomato salad found across Morocco.