Skip to main content

Tamatem bel Bassal

Tomatoes are banadoura in Arabic and tamatem in Egypt.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound firm ripe tomatoes, sliced
1 red Italian or large mild onion or 5 scallions, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped parsley or cilantro
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon wine vinegar or the juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt and pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)

Preparation

  1. Put the tomatoes in a bowl with the onions and parsley or cilantro. Dress with a mixture of oil and vinegar or lemon juice with salt and pepper and cumin, if using.

Cover of Claudia Roden's The New Book of Middle Easter Food, featuring a blue filigree bowl filled with Meyer lemons and sprigs of mint.
Reprinted with permission from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, copyright © 2000 by Claudia Roden, published by Knopf. Buy the full book on Amazon or Bookshop.
Read More
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Like fattoush salad and strawberry shortcake roll.
Add a bag of potato chips and you've got yourself a party.
This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.
The most efficient method takes less than an hour, but you might not even need it.
Using two entire lemons—pith, skin, and all—cranks up the citrus flavor in this classic dessert.
Think a Hugo spritz, a gin basil smash, and plenty more patio-ready pours.