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    Home » Africa » Fata: Spicy Tomato Sauce from Eritrea

    Fata: Spicy Tomato Sauce from Eritrea

    Published on Feb 10, 2021 Modified: Feb 9, 2021 by Alexandria Drzazgowski.

    Jump to Recipe

    Fata is a dish popular in Eritrea made with a spicy tomato sauce served over chunks of crusty bread. It is a spectacular snack or vegetarian lunch with loads of flavor. 

    Bowl with bread, jalapeno slices, and spicy tomato sauce.

    Hello Reader! I try my hardest to research recipes as best as I can before posting to ensure I am representing each culture correctly. If this recipe is from your country and I have made a mistake or you have suggestions for how to make it more authentic, I would love to hear! Please leave a comment below letting me know what should be different, and I will rework the recipe. It is always my intention to pay homage and respect to each cultural dish that I cook. Thanks for reading!

    Jump to:
    • Recipe Origins
    • Why Make this Recipe
    • What Ingredients are in this Recipe
    • How to Make Spicy Tomato Sauce
    • Expert Tips
    • Fata Recipe with Spicy Tomato Sauce from Eritrea

    Recipe Origins

    Have you ever had a Panzanella salad? Some basil, tomatoes, and bread combine to make a unique meal!

    Well I’m here today to share with you the African version of a Panzanella salad. The recipe is called Fata, and it hails from Eritrea, a country on the horn of Africa. 

    It’s made with a spicy tomato sauce that is spooned over crusty bread in a bowl. This is a common lunch in Eritrea, and a recipe I was delighted to make in my home while cooking the country!

    Why Make this Recipe

    1. “Travel” to Eritrea: Never been to Eritrea? No problem. This recipe will transport you there by showing you a common lunch in the country! Even if you’ve never been to Eritrea, this is a great recipe to show you what the flavors and culture of the country is like. 
    2. Quick Lunch: I threw this recipe together for lunch today, and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly and easily it came together! The meal was ready in under 20 minutes. 
    3. Bread and Tomato Sauce: Have you ever finished off a bowl of pasta by running your leftover bread around the rim of the bowl? This dish is just like that, but *add a little spice*. It’s everything you love with just a little kick of flavor! 

    What Ingredients are in this Recipe

    Labeled ingredient shot
    1. Vegetable Oil: You can also use canola oil, sunflower oil, or even olive oil (though the last one would be slightly less authentic)
    2. Vegetables: Red onion, garlic, tomatoes, jalapeño, tomato pasta
    3. Spices: Berbere spice blend
    4. Crusty Bread: I purchased this from the bakery section at my local grocery store. You can use French bread, but I used a larger loaf. Anything with a flaky crust will be a great option. 
    5. Greek Yogurt: I used full fat, plain Greek yogurt. 

    How to Make Spicy Tomato Sauce

    Step 1: Cook the Tomato Sauce

    red onions and garlic cooking in a pot

    In a medium pan, heat the oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook over medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes.

    Tomatoes, berbere, red onions, and tomato paste in a pot to cook

    Add tomatoes, tomato paste, berbere, and water and heat, uncovered, until the tomatoes break down, about 7 minutes. 

    Step 2: Plate and Serve

    Put 3 pieces of bread in each bowl. Then, layer with spoonfuls of sauce, jalapeños and greek yogurt. Enjoy! 

    Expert Tips

    bowl of bread with spicy tomato sauce and topped with jalapeños
    • Make sure to mince your tomato and onion very finely.
    • If you want the tomato sauce to be less spicy, you can add less berbere. Alternatively, you can sprinkle with some cinnamon, paprika, nutmeg, and cumin, and omit the cayenne altogether. 
    • If you want, you can sprinkle additional toppings on top, like raw onions, cilantro, or anything else that sounds yummy!
    • Though it’s not traditional, the spicy tomato sauce would make a great tomato sauce for pasta or a sauce for rice if you so desire. 

    Did you like this recipe for Fata from Eritrea with Spicy Tomato Sauce? If so, make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you: 

    • Berbere Spice Blend
    • Panzanella Sandwich 
    • Zigni from Eritrea 
    • 3 Ingredient Pasta Sauce
    • Spicy Peanut Sauce from Benin
    • Andorran Garlic Tomato Toast
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    Spicy tomato sauce spooned over bread topped with jalapenos.

    Fata Recipe with Spicy Tomato Sauce from Eritrea

    Fata is a dish popular in Eritrea made with a spicy tomato sauce served over chunks of crusty bread. It is a spectacular snack or vegetarian lunch with loads of flavor.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, lunch
    Cuisine: Eritrean
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 7 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 17 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 315kcal
    Author: Alexandria Drzazgowski

    Equipment

    • Spice Grinder
    • Pan(s)

    Ingredients

    • ¼ vegetable Oil
    • ½ red onion, minced
    • 1 tbsp minced garlic
    • 4 plum tomatoes, minced
    • 2 tbsp tomato paste
    • 1 tsp Berbere
    • ⅓ cup water
    • 6 slices of crusty bread
    • 1 jalapeño
    • ½ cup 5 oz Full fat greek yogurt

    Instructions

    • In a medium pan, heat the oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook over medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes.
    • Add tomatoes, tomato paste, berbere, and water and heat, uncovered, until the tomatoes break down, about 7 minutes.
    • Put 3 pieces of bread in each bowl. Then, layer with spoonfuls of sauce, jalapeños and greek yogurt. Enjoy!

    Notes

    Recipe copyright The Foreign Fork. For educational or personal use only. 
     
    • Vegetable Oil: You can also use canola oil, sunflower oil, or even olive oil (though the last one would be slightly less authentic)
    • Vegetables: Red onion, garlic, tomatoes, jalapeño, tomato pasta
    • Spices: Berbere spice blend
    • Crusty Bread: I purchased this from the bakery section at my local grocery store. You can use French bread, but I used a larger loaf. Anything with a flaky crust will be a great option.
    • Greek Yogurt: I used full fat, plain Greek yogurt.
    • Make sure to mince your tomato and onion very finely.
    • If you want the tomato sauce to be less spicy, you can add less berbere. Alternatively, you can sprinkle with some cinnamon, paprika, nutmeg, and cumin, and omit the cayenne altogether. 
    • If you want, you can sprinkle additional toppings on top, like raw onions, cilantro, or anything else that sounds yummy!
    • Though it’s not traditional, the spicy tomato sauce would make a great tomato sauce for pasta or a sauce for rice if you so desire.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 667mg | Potassium: 753mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1364IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 205mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheForeignFork or tag #TheForeignFork!

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    Africa, Appetizer, Main Course, Sauces, Side Dish, Vegetarian Recipes Eritrea

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