On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Amy Dell, founder of Sababa Foods, which produces authentic Middle Eastern foods with a modern-day flair.

Dell's first product, Saturday Sauce, is her take on matbucha. It is a slightly spicy tomato-based sauce, like the base of shakshuka. It’s like the Jewish version of Sunday sauce.

“Sunday sauce generally refers to [what] an Italian family’s grandma is making [on] Sunday,” Dell explains. “Tomato sauce, stewing for hours … [that] you use it in so many different ways and formats.”

Both are good, simple red sauces that go with just about everything. Dell uses it for Moroccan fish, sheet pan chicken, so many different things.

Dell grew up in the restaurant industry and is still deli-adjacent. Her father, who is from Israel, owned Mr. Broadway kosher restaurant in New York City. Her husband, Jake, is the third-generation owner of Katz’s Deli.

“The first date that I went on with my husband, I was like, ‘Oh, you smell like pastrami, that's a familiar smell,’” says Dell, who is “Team Pastrami” all the way.

“Pastrami just melts in your mouth,” she says. “But I will say my favorite thing at Katz’s, which might be controversial, is the turkey; the turkey is underrated and it's delightful.”

Amy Dell talks about growing up in a deli, marrying into one, and creating Sababa foods. She also shares some of her favorite ways to use Saturday Sauce, including her recipe for Tunisian tuna toast, which you can find at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.

Learn more about Amy Dell and Saturday Sauce at Sababa-foods.com and follow @Sababa_foods on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Saturday Sauce is now available in Erewhon stores.

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