A fiery fresh tomato and green chili sauce served as a condiment alongside Eritrean dishes, adding vibrant heat and acidity.
Nutrition & Info
Equipment Needed
Presentation Guide
Vessel: small bowl
Garnishes: fresh chili slices
Accompaniments: all Eritrean dishes
Instructions
-
1
Blend tomatoes, chilies, garlic, and onion in a blender until chunky, not completely smooth.
-
2
Heat olive oil in a small pot, add the blended mixture and cumin.
-
3
Simmer for ten minutes until slightly thickened and the raw edge cooks off.
-
4
Season with salt and lemon juice, cool slightly before serving.
-
5
Serve in a small bowl alongside the main injera platter as a condiment.
Did You Know?
Every Eritrean household has their own silsi recipe, and debates about the proper chili-to-tomato ratio are common at family gatherings.
Chef's Notes
Equipment Tips
- blender or mortar and pestle
- small pot
Garnishing
fresh chili slices
Accompaniments
all Eritrean dishes
The Story Behind Silsi
Silsi is the essential fresh sauce of Eritrean cuisine, providing a bright, acidic, and spicy counterpoint to the rich, slow-cooked stews. Fresh tomatoes and chilies arrived in Eritrea through Italian colonial influence, but Eritrean cooks quickly made these ingredients their own, creating a condiment that now feels inseparable from traditional cuisine.
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