Congo, Sauces, African

African Tomato Sauce

by Nia Nkosi

This vibrant African Tomato Sauce is a flavorful and versatile condiment, perfect for adding a rich, savory depth to your meals. Made with fresh tomatoes, aromatic onions, and a hint of spice, it's a staple in many African cuisines. Enjoy it as a side dish or a topping for your favorite grains and vegetables.

Total Time

20 minutes

Difficulty

Easy

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Ingredients for 4 Servings

3 teaspoons

oil (for frying, palm oil is most authentic)
2

medium onions, finely chopped
1 (4 ounce)

can tomato paste
3

tomatoes, chopped and mashed
1

bay leaf
to taste

grated nutmeg
to Taste

salt
to taste

cayenne pepper

Time

Preparation Time

10 minutes
Cooking Time

10 minutes
Total Time

20 minutes

Goes Great with

VEGAN RICE COOKED WITH PUMPKIN

Green Lentil Salad (Azifa)

Nigerian Fruit Salad

Traditional Egyptian Salad

Yemiser Selatta -- Ethiopian Lentil Salad With Shallots and Chili

Method

Heat oil in a frying pan.
Fry onions for 3 minutes.
Stir in all other ingredients.
Add water as necessary to make a smooth sauce.
Season to taste and stir.
Bring to a slow boil, reduce heat, and simmer for ten minutes.
Serve with fried Plantains or Yams.

Notes:

Palm oil is most authentic for frying. Serve this delicious sauce with fried Plantains or Yams for a complete meal.

Serving info: Total recipe: 707g · Yields 4 portions · Portion size: 177g

Nutrient	Per 100g (or 100ml)	Per Portion	% Daily Value
Energy (kcal)	51.12	90.29	4.51%
Carbohydrates (g)	7.88	13.92	5.06%
↳ of which sugars (g)	5.65	9.98	19.96%
Dietary fiber (g)	1.80	3.17	11.32%
Protein (g)	1.35	2.39	4.78%
Total fat (g)	2.12	3.75	4.81%
↳ Saturated fat (g)	0.99	1.75	8.75%
↳ Monounsaturated fat (g)	0.75	1.33
↳ Polyunsaturated fat (g)	0.26	0.46
↳ Trans fat (g)	0.00	0.00
Sodium (mg)	55.30	97.67	4.25%
Calcium (mg)	14.49	25.61	1.97%
Iron (mg)	0.39	0.70	3.89%
Potassium (mg)	328.41	580.06	12.34%
Vitamin C (mg)	9.59	16.94	18.82%
Vitamin B12 (µg)	0.00	0.00	0%

Ingredient data sources

Oil, vegetable, palm — 13.5g — Oil, palm — USDA
Onions, raw — 220g — Onions, raw — USDA
Tomato paste, canned — 113g — Tomato paste, canned, with salt — USDA
Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw — 360g — Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average — USDA

⚠️ = estimated or sourced outside the listed databases.
% Daily Value based on FDA 2020 Daily Values for adults (2,000 kcal diet).

Goes Great with