Acili Ezme

This authentic Turkish Acili Ezme takes just 15 minutes to make - prep included - and is super healthy loaded with veggies and not much else. A delicious spicy sauce, dip and meze that will liven up any dish - my favorite way to have it is with a nice piece of bread, or as a sauce for meat.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Turkish

Diet Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 5

Total Time 15

Servings servings

Calories 51kcal

Author Emmeline Kemperyd

Equipment

Ingredients

½ yellow onion peeled and chopped very small; or red onion/shallots
2 padrón peppers chopped very small
½ red bell pepper chopped very small
½ cucumber chopped very small
5 tomatoes ripe but firm; chopped very small, stem removed, peeling optional
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili flakes* see note for details
1.5 tablespoon olive oil or neutral cooking oil

Instructions

Place chopped onion, chopped padrón peppers and chopped red bell pepper in a food processor and cover. Run the food processor for 15 seconds, then stop it, take off the lid and stir with a spoon. Check if the pieces are small enough (they should be tiny), if not, cover and run the food processor for 15 more seconds.
½ yellow onion, 2 padrón peppers, ½ red bell pepper
Add the cucumber and run the food processor again for 10 seconds.
½ cucumber
Mix, then add the tomatoes, salt, chili flakes and olive oil and run the food processor again for 10 seconds. Take off the lid, taste test, and add more chili flakes if you would like it spicier. Then place on a nice plate and serve!
5 tomatoes, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon chili flakes*, 1.5 tablespoon olive oil

Video

Notes

Ingredient Notes

Red bell pepper and padron peppers give the best taste in combination, but they can be used interchangeably, and any color bell pepper works
Chili flakes - I use Aleppo chili flakes (pul biber) that give a very authentic taste and are not super spicy. Please taste test as you go and adjust the amount of chili flakes to suit your taste.
Olive oil gives amazing taste, but can be switched for a neutral cooking oil

Tips & Tricks

Don't skip the chopping and think it will all be solved by the food processor - you then risk ending up with soup instead
Use a really sharp knife, especially when chopping the tomatoes, to be able to chop them as small as possible without them turning into mush
Do follow the order of adding everything to the food processor, to achieve the best texture
Only run your food processor for 10 seconds at a time after adding cucumbers and tomatoes! Otherwise they will likely turn to mush.
Taste test and add a little spice at a time, especially if you're afraid of making it too spicy
If your ezme is too watery pour it in a strainer to drain the liquid
Store ezme for up to a week - keep it in an airtight container in the fridge

Nutrition