Ata Din Din (Fried Pepper Sauce)

Name: Ata Din Din (Fried Pepper Sauce)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: West African
Ingredients: 4 red bell peppers, seeded, quartered; 6 ripe roma tomatoes, quartered; 2 scotch bonnet or habanero pepper, stemmed; 1 yellow onion, roughly chopped; 1/3 cup red palm oil (substitute neutral vegetable oil); 1 tsp salt; 2 vegan bouillon cube, crumbled

A classic Yoruba base sauce of blended bell peppers, tomatoes, and scotch bonnet slowly fried in palm oil until thick, concentrated, and richly caramelized. Use it as a stew base, braising liquid, or standalone sauce over rice.

55 minEasyServes 8140 cal/serving

West AfricanSauceStovetopVeganLow CarbGluten-FreeDairy-FreeEgg-FreeNut-FreeShellfish-FreeLow-SodiumAlcohol-Free

Ingredients

4 red bell peppers, seeded, quartered
6 ripe roma tomatoes, quartered
2 scotch bonnet or habanero pepper, stemmed
1 yellow onion, roughly chopped
1/3 cup red palm oil (substitute neutral vegetable oil)
1 tsp salt
2 vegan bouillon cube, crumbled

Instructions

1

Blend 4 seeded, quartered red bell peppers, 6 quartered ripe roma tomatoes, 2 stemmed scotch bonnet or habanero pepper, and 1 roughly chopped yellow onion in a blender until smooth. Do not add water.
2

Heat 1/3 cup red palm oil (substitute neutral vegetable oil) in a wide, heavy pot over medium heat until it shimmers.
3

Carefully pour in the blended pepper mixture - it will sputter. Stir to combine with the oil.
4

Cook uncovered over medium heat, stirring every 5 minutes, for 30 to 35 minutes. The sauce should go from watery and orange to thick, dark red, and glossy, with oil rising to the surface.
5

Stir in 2 crumbled vegan bouillon cube and 1 tsp salt. Cook 5 more minutes.
6

Taste and adjust salt. Use immediately as a stew base or protein braising liquid, or refrigerate in a sealed jar for up to 5 days.

Questions

Can I make Ata Din Din (Fried Pepper Sauce) ahead?

Yes, it takes well to being made ahead. Refrigerated in a sealed jar, it keeps four to five days. It also freezes flat in a bag for up to three months.

Can I halve or double Ata Din Din (Fried Pepper Sauce)?

Yes. As written it serves 8. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

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