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    Home » Turkish Recipes

    Turkish Ezme Recipe

    Published: Dec 8, 2021 · Modified: May 12, 2022 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    2547 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Ezme is a classic Turkish sauce, condiment and appetizer that’s usually served on the side of kebabs with some fresh bread. It’s ready in 10 minutes and is so delicious thanks to tomatoes, peppers and herbs.

    Ezme on a plate with pie bread, lemon and herbs.

    My love for Turkish cuisine is known and I’m happy to share all the recipes with you. From classic simit and cilbir to gozleme, sumac onions and red lentil soup, Turkish food, like many other Mediterranean dishes is packed with vegetables, nutrients and of course, a lot of flavor!

    Table Of Contents:
    • What is ezme?
    • 3 Tips to make the perfect ezme
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Variations
    • How to serve ezme
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More Turkish recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    What is ezme?

    Depending on the use, ezme is an appetizer, dip, salsa, sauce or salad. Ezme means “mashed” which served well here since all the ingredients are chopped very finely by hand or a food processor.

    It’s made mainly with tomatoes and olive oil, which makes it a healthy addition to the table. Each region of Turkey has a different way of making it and some like it spicy, known as acılı ezme.

    Serve ezme salad with bread as an appetizer or mezze.

    3 Tips to make the perfect ezme

    1. Use top quality tomatoes: The main ingredient used in this recipe is tomatoes. Make sure you’re using high quality tomatoes, just like you do for Gavurdagi (Turkish tomato walnut salad) especially if they’re not in season. I prefer to make this salsa in summer because that’s when tomatoes are in their prime.
    2. Chop finely: While using a food processor is much easier, it’s best to make this dish using a chef’s knife and chop the ingredients finely by hand.
    3. Let the flavors combine: If time permits, refrigerate it for 30 minutes before serving for the flavors to incorporate.

    Ingredients

    For this recipe you nee onion, tomatoes, peppers, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley and spices.

    Tomatoes: As I mentioned before, tomatoes are the main part of this dish. You want to make sure that they’re firm, fresh and flavorful.

    Onion and pepper: White or yellow onion would work for this recipe. You also need sweet green and red pepper such as red bell pepper and Anaheim or Italian pepper.

    Spices: A combination of salt, pepper, Aleppo pepper and sumac would add a lot of flavor to this sauce. Sumac adds a touch of sourness that works well with the sweetness of the tomatoes. I also add just a little bit of tomato paste for more intense flavor and color.

    Olive oil: As always, quality extra virgin olive oil is all you need.

    Instructions

    Chop the tomatoes, onions and peppers very finely and mix them in a bowl. Add the minced garlic and finely chopped parsley to the vegetables and stir to combine.

    Add in the tomato paste, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, Aleppo pepper and sumac. Stir well and make sure all the ingredients are well combined. Refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve as mezze, sauce or salad.

    Variations

    As I mentioned above, there are several ways to make this dish and the ingredients might slightly differ in each recipe. In order to make ezme more sour, you can add some pomegranate molasses or more lemon juice alongside olive oil.

    Another variation is acılı ezme which translates to spicy ezme. This version uses spicy Aleppo pepper.

    healthy Turkish salsa made with tomatoes, olive oil and herbs.

    How to serve ezme

    You can serve ezme as a dip or mezze with some pita, Turkish pide bread or lavash. This salad can also be served as a condiment alongside dishes such as kumpir (Turkish stuffed potatoes, kofta kebab or kebabs like shish tawook, grilled chicken or beef shish kabob.

    Another way to serve this classic Turkish dish is on a mezze platter with hummus, baba ganoush, muhammara, labneh and pita chips.

    Frequently asked questions

    Should I peel the tomatoes?

    Several recipes encourage peeling the tomatoes, but I have tried this recipe with peeled and unpeeled tomatoes and the results are pretty much similar.

    Can I make this ahead of time?

    Yes, you can make this Turkish salsa up to 3 days in advance.

    How long does ezme keep?

    You can keep this salad in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

    Can I use canned tomatoes?

    Canned tomatoes won’t work for this recipe as they don’t have the same flavor and texture as fresh tomatoes.

    Can I freeze this?

    No, ezme does not freeze well since it contains tomatoes. The flavor and texture would change and it’ll turn mealy.

    More Turkish recipes

    • Turkish Simit Recipe (Step-by-Step tutorial)
    • Turkish Bulgur Pilaf Recipe
    • Turkish Vegan Lentil Balls (Mercimek Köftesi)
    • Lahmacun Turkish Pizza Recipe

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Turkish Ezme Recipe

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Ezme is a classic Turkish sauce, condiment and appetizer that’s usually served on the side of kebabs with some fresh bread. It’s ready in 10 minutes and is so delicious thanks to tomatoes, peppers and herbs.
    4.94 from 16 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Appetizer, Salad
    Cuisine Turkish
    Servings 6
    Calories 87 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 large tomatoes firm and fresh
    • 1 medium white onion
    • 1 green bell pepper see notes
    • 1 red bell pepper
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • ½ cup fresh parsley finely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1 lemon juice of
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
    • 1 tsp kosher salt
    • ½ tsp black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon Aleppo pepper
    • 1 tsp sumac

    Instructions
     

    • Chop the tomatoes very finely and place them in a bowl. Chop the onions and peppers very finely as well and add them to the tomatoes.
    • Add the minced garlic and finely chopped parsley to the vegetables and stir to combine.
    • Add in the tomato paste, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, Aleppo pepper and sumac to the chopped vegetables. Stir well and make sure all the ingredients are well combined.
    • Refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve as mezze, sauce or salad.

    Notes

    • Serve ezme as a mezze or dip with hummus, baba ganoush, muhammara, labneh and pita chips. pita, Turkish pide bread or lavash. Ezme can also be served as a sauce or condiment with dishes such as kofta kebab or kebabs like shish tawook, grilled chicken or beef shish kabob.
    • Canned tomatoes won't work for this recipe since their texture and flavor is different from fresh ones. 
    • Store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You cannot freeze ezme.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 87kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 422mgPotassium: 408mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1969IUVitamin C: 72mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    2547 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chris

      September 07, 2022 at 7:06 pm

      This may be a good recipe but the website is totally unreadable. I know you’re trying to make some money but consider getting rid of a few ads so people will actually want to use it.

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        September 16, 2022 at 10:22 am

        Hi Chris, I'm glad you like the recipe and sorry if the ads are no fun. One of the ways for us to earn a living from providing 100% free recipes to have ads on the website. We have provided a "jump to recipe" button on top of each post to make sure you can access the recipe immediately if scrolling through the post (and seeing ads) is not possible. Hope to see you back here!

        Reply
    2. Allison

      June 20, 2022 at 6:48 pm

      5 stars
      Served this as a dip and it was so flavorful. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    3. Brandy

      June 20, 2022 at 3:23 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for the first time the other day and we really enjoyed it! It was easy to make and incredibly tasty!

      Reply
    4. Jill

      January 14, 2022 at 10:16 am

      5 stars
      This sauce looks so rich and decadent. I mistook the first photo as a meat sauce! LOL Looking forward to trying this.

      Reply
    5. AISilva

      January 14, 2022 at 10:13 am

      5 stars
      I've had never made Ezme before but this turkish ezme recipe was so flavourful. I can't wait to try it again. Best yet, ready in 10 minutes!

      Reply
    6. MJ

      January 14, 2022 at 10:10 am

      5 stars
      This is the most amazing dip! So fresh and full of flavor. Can't wait to make it again!

      Reply
    7. Kate

      January 14, 2022 at 9:56 am

      5 stars
      I love Ezme and was so happy when I came across this recipe. It tasted amazing and was very easy to prepare.

      Reply
    8. Renee Goerger

      January 13, 2022 at 10:04 am

      5 stars
      This is so fresh and delicious. Thanks for getting me to try a Turkish recipe. I loved it!

      Reply
    9. Nellie Tracy

      January 12, 2022 at 12:35 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great recipe! Will be making often

      Reply
    10. Beth

      December 23, 2021 at 2:51 pm

      5 stars
      This sauce is a game changer - I love versatile dishes like this that go from appetizer to main course side dish. I can imagine it will be even better the next time I make it during the height of tomato season!

      Reply
    11. Jenni

      December 23, 2021 at 8:26 am

      5 stars
      I am sooo glad I stumbled on this recipe! Its so fun and delicious! I never knew I was missing this sauce for my kebobs but I will never not have this on the table again!

      Reply

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    Welcome to Unicorns in the Kitchen, where we share delicious recipes from our kitchen to yours. You’re in for a delicious adventure and collection of unique and tasty recipes.

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