North Africa · Side
Shata (Fiery Chili, Lemon, and Garlic Paste)
A fiery, tangy raw chili condiment pounded with fresh garlic, toasted coriander seed, and sharp lemon juice.
The story
Ubiquitous on dining tables from Khartoum street stalls to rural homesteads, Shata is the pungent condiment spooned liberally over ful medames, stews, and roasted meats. While dried chili powders share the name, fresh Shata bil Limun relies on pounding fresh bird's eye chilies directly with coarse salt in a wooden mortar. The chemical interaction between the raw garlic allicin and the highly acidic citrus juice mellows sulfurous bite while fixing the bright capsaicin heat.
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