Salads & cooked mezze
Matisha Msletta (Sweet Tomato Jam)
مطيشة مسلّطة · maṭisha msleṭṭa
Matisha msletta is a sweet tomato jam: tomatoes simmered patiently with honey, cinnamon, ginger and often caramelised onion until they collapse into a thick, dark, glossy confit finished with fried almonds and sesame. Intensely sweet-savoury, it is the traditional partner to <a href='/dishes/kefta'>kefta</a> and grilled meats, and a relative of the couscous topping tfaya.
- Origin
- Across Morocco
- Type
- Sweet condiment / cooked side
- Eaten at
- With kefta, grills, guests
- Key flavour
- Tomato, honey, cinnamon, almond
What Matisha Msletta is
Tomatoes are cooked down slowly, often for an hour or more, with cinnamon, ginger, honey and sometimes fried onion until nearly all the water evaporates and the mixture turns thick, dark and jam-like.
It is finished with fried almonds and toasted sesame, giving a glossy sweet-savoury confit that is spooned alongside or over grilled and minced meat.
Origin & story
The pairing of a sweet, honeyed tomato-and-onion jam with savoury meat is a classic Moroccan move, the same logic that produces tfaya, the sweet onion topping for couscous.
It is a dish that turns cheap tomatoes into something rich and celebratory, often made to dress up kefta or to honour guests.
Key ingredients at a glance
- Ripe tomatoes
- Honey
- Cinnamon and ginger
- Fried onion (optional)
- Fried almonds
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Olive oil or butter
This is a flavour snapshot, not a recipe.
When & how it's eaten
Served warm or at room temperature as a sweet accompaniment to kefta, grilled meats and sometimes fish, scooped with bread; a little goes with each savoury bite.
It can also open a meal as one of the more unusual sweet-savoury items on a mixed salad plate.
Regional variations
Some versions are almost pure tomato-and-honey, others heavy with caramelised onion, bringing them close to tfaya; the sweetness and spicing vary by cook.
It is closely related to the couscous topping tfaya seen on couscous tfaya and to sweet-meat tagines.
Where to try it in Marrakech
Look for it served with kefta and grills at traditional restaurants and homes; a where-locals-eat food tour is a good way to find it.
Learn the sweet-jam technique in a Moroccan salads and mezze class and read more in the guides.
Frequently asked questions
What is matisha msletta?
A Moroccan sweet tomato jam, cooked down slowly with honey, cinnamon and often onion into a thick confit finished with almonds and sesame, served with grilled and minced meat.
What is it served with?
Most classically with kefta and grilled meats, as a sweet-savoury counterpoint scooped up with bread.
Is it the same as tfaya?
It is closely related; tfaya is the sweet caramelised-onion topping for couscous, and onion-heavy versions of matisha msletta come very close to it.