31/07/2025
Lets show some love to Mum, she is cooking for yiu all today.
Tajeh be Zait — Mum’s Veggie Stew 🫒🍆🍅
This is one of those humble, comforting dishes that takes me straight back to my mum’s kitchen. Slow-cooked in olive oil, layered with love — and not a stir until the boil. Here’s how to make it:
Ingredients
• A good glug of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 onion, diced (not too big, not too small)
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 large potato, peeled & cubed
• 2 zucchinis, chopped into chunks
• 1 eggplant, peeled & chopped
• 3 ripe tomatoes, peeled & finely chopped
• ½ tsp allspice
• A pinch of cracked black pepper
• 1 tsp dried mint
• A pinch of dried chilli flakes (optional)
• Salt, to taste
• ½ can diced tomatoes
• ¼ cup water (to rinse the can and pour over)
Method
• Olive oil first: Pour a generous amount of olive oil straight into your pot. No skimping — this is a tajeh be zait after all.
• Layer it up (no stirring yet!):
• Add your diced onions.
• Sprinkle over the finely chopped garlic.
• Next, layer the cubed potato.
• Then the chopped zucchini.
• Then the peeled, chopped eggplant.
• And finally, the peeled and finely chopped tomatoes.
• Season: Sprinkle with allspice, black pepper, dried mint, chilli flakes, and salt.
• Sauce it: Drizzle the ½ can of diced tomatoes over the top. Fill that same can with ¼ cup water, swirl, and pour over.
• Cook:
• Cover with a lid and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Once boiling, remove the lid, give it a gentle toss, and reduce heat to medium-low.
• Let it simmer until the potatoes and veggies are tender and the liquid reduces.
• Adjust seasoning if needed.
To Serve
Plate it up with freshly cut raw onion, dried or fresh mint, a green chilli, and some warm bread. That’s it — a simple, honest meal from the heart.