3 Layered Tunisian Tagine Recipes

3 LAYERED TUNISIAN TAGINE

Steps:

• Place a baking mold (10 to 15 inches) with 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the oven at 350°F/180°C.
• Fry in a pan onion until translucent.
• Add ground meat and cook stirring continuously until through.
• Remove from heat and add the other ingredients listed in the ground meat base.
• Take 1/3 of the lower base mix and add the other ingredients for the lower level. Mix with the spoon. Check salt and pepper!
• Take mold out and poor this first mixture. Spread with the spatula.
• Bake 10 minutes at 180°C During this time prepare the middle layer.
• Note: Heat and timing are basing it on convection oven. Cooking time depends from the size of the baking mold as well.
• For the middle layer take another third of the mixture. Add cheeses and egg. Also here mix with the spoon. Check salt and pepper!
• When the lower lever is firm poor the second level on it. Use the spatula.
• Bake other 10 minutes or so until firm. During this time prepare the upper layer.
• For the upper lever take the remaining third, add parsley and eggs. Mix with the spoon and adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
• Bake other 10-15 minutes or so until firm. Check with the knife if through.
• When ready let it sit for at least 20 minutes prior cutting.
• Serve and enjoy.
• Note if you have a smaller mold the cooking time will rise as the tagine will be thicken.
• Note: Feel free to change or add ingredients to your own taste.

TUNISIAN FISH TAGINE

Steps:

• Toast the cumin seeds in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes over low heat. Grind to a powder in a mortar and pestle or in a spice grinder and set aside.
• Seed the chilies and cut into julienne strips.
• Place half of the olive oil in one large frypan and half in a nonstick pan with a lid. Put the potato into the nonstick pan. Add the tumeric and fry, tossing and turning the potatoes.
• At the same time in the other pan, fry the onion and celery, stirring occasionally. When the onion begins to soften, add the garlic, lime leaves, chiles, cumin, paprika and saffron. Cook for a further 2-3 minutes, then season lightly with salt and pepper and turn off the heat. Leave in the pan while the potatoes finish cooking.
• As soon as the potatoes are cooked, season the fish steaks with salt and pepper and put them on top of the potatoes. Spoon the onion mixture over and around the steaks and pour over the tomatoes. Bring to boil over a medium-high heat, immediately lower it and cover. Cook gently for 7-10 minutes or until the fish is just cooked. Taste and season.
• Serve in large warmed bowl, sprinkled with cilantro.

TUNISIAN TAGINE OF LAMB WITH ARTICHOKE AND PEAS

Steps:

• Make a mixture of 2 Tbsp.
• olive oil, ginger, saffron, and garlic.
• Bath the meat pieces in the mixture until all sides are coated.
• Put 1 Tbsp.
• olive oil in the center of the tagine and place the meat pieces on top of it.
• Clean the artichoke, take out the leaves and the core and only use the heart.
• Skin the preserved lemon.
• Place artichokes on top of the meat.
• Scatter olives on the tagine and then the skin of the preserved lemon.
• Squeeze the pulp from inside the lemon all over the vegetables.
• Add 1/2 cup water.
• Place in a preheated oven at 300 F.
• for 2 1/2 hours checking every 45 minutes for tenderness of artichokes and until water dries out.
• Then add the green peas and cook for 10 more minutes.
• (If using fresh green peas, make sure they have been boiled in salted water for 10 minutes before adding to tagine.) Serve with couscous.

TUNISIAN TAGINE

Steps:

• Boil 2 eggs for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Peel and chop potatoes. Fry in olive oil with salt, turmeric and cumin.
• Fry onions lightly, then add ground meat , if you are using it, and some salt. Let fry for a few minutes, then add harissa to taste and some water. Let simmer until most of the liquid is gone. Add some of the parsley and let cool.
• Prepare the rest of the vegetables.
• Peel and chop the boiled eggs.
• Mix vegetables, meat, potatoes, boiled eggs and about 4 ounces of the cheese in a bowl. Add the six raw eggs, salt, turmeric, cumin and crushed coriander seeds (and more harissa if you wish).
• Pour vegetable oil in an oven proof dish and pour mixture into it. Place remaining cheese on top.
• Bake in 350 F oven (medium heat) for 20-30 minutes.
• Cut into pieces and serve.