Öncü Mixed Pepper & Tomato Paste – 370 g

This 370 g jar from Öncü holds a mixed tomato and pepper paste, sold in Turkey as karışık salça. It combines the sweetness of tomato with the deeper, slightly smoky flavour of red pepper, so one spoon gives you both of the pastes most Turkish recipes call for.

Why a mixed paste

Turkish home cooking leans on two pastes: domates salçası, made from tomatoes, and biber salçası, made from red peppers. Many recipes use a spoon of each. A mixed paste brings them together in one jar, which is handy when your fridge is full or when you cook in small amounts. The result is redder and fuller than tomato paste alone, and milder than pure pepper paste.

For the exact ratio of tomato to pepper, the salt content and whether the pepper is sweet or hot, check the label on the jar. Öncü is a Turkish brand whose single pastes are also on our shelves.

How to use tomato and pepper paste

The basic rule is to fry the paste in oil or butter for a minute before adding liquid. This takes away any raw taste, deepens the colour and brings out the sweetness. Then add water, stock or tomatoes as the recipe needs.

Tomato and pepper paste burns easily because of its natural sugars, so keep the heat at medium and stir all the time while it fries. You will smell the change when it is ready: the sharp tomato note softens and the kitchen fills with a sweet, roasted pepper smell. That is the moment to add your liquid.

Stews

Use it in kuru fasulye, the classic white bean stew, or in chickpea and lentil dishes. A spoon or two in a pot of beans gives a deep red sauce without opening two jars.

Rice and bulgur

Stir a spoon into the fat before adding grains for a red bulgur pilaf, or use it when making stuffed peppers and vine leaves.

Other ideas

• Spread thinly on lahmacun or pide dough under minced meat.
• Mix with olive oil, garlic and herbs as a marinade for chicken.
• Add to soups such as ezogelin or tarhana.
• Stir into menemen with the tomatoes.
• Use in köfte mixtures for colour and moisture.

How much to use

Pastes are concentrated, so start small. One heaped tablespoon is enough for a family pot of beans or a pan of pilaf for four. Add more once you have tasted the dish, as some pastes carry more salt than others.

A smaller jar

At 370 g, this jar suits households that cook Turkish food a few times a week, or anyone who wants to try a mixed paste before buying a larger tub. The smaller size also means the tomato and pepper paste stays fresh to the last spoon.

Storage

Keep the jar closed in a cool, dry cupboard. Once opened, keep it in the fridge. Smooth the top flat and pour a thin layer of olive oil over it after each use, which stops mould forming on the surface. Always use a clean, dry spoon.

Order Öncü paste online

Robin Food delivers across the UK, with same-day delivery available in many London areas. If you prefer separate jars, choose Öncü Tomato Paste and Öncü Mild Pepper Paste. For a bean stew tonight, add Duru Borlotti Beans.