Algerian Spiced Fish Tagine Recipes

FRAGRANT FISH TAGINE

Steps:

• To make the chermoula, put the oil, garlic, cumin, paprika, three-quarters of the coriander and the salt in a small bowl. Add the lemon juice, then blitz with a hand blender until smooth. Spoon half over the fish fillets and turn them over to coat both sides. Set aside to marinate.
• Heat the oil and fry the onions and garlic until softened and starting to colour, about 4-5 mins. Add the cumin and paprika and cook for 2 mins more. Add the tomatoes, stock, olives and lemon zest, stir in remaining chermoula and simmer, uncovered for 10 mins.
• Stir in the peppers and potatoes, cover and simmer for 15 mins until the potatoes are tender. If freezing, reserve half the sauce and chill before freezing.
• Stir the remaining coriander into the tagine, then arrange the fish fillets on top (if freezing a batch, reserve 4 portions of fish), and cook for 4-6 mins until the fish is just cooked. Serve with basmati rice, boiled with a little saffron if you like.

ALGERIAN SPICED FISH TAGINE

Steps:

• Place 4 tablespoons olive oil in blender with cilantro, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, anise, cayenne pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt and lemon juice. Process until smooth.
• Cut fish in 4 or 6 portions. Season with salt and pepper. Place in dish, and coat with mixture. Marinate 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 300°F Place tomato halves in tagine or in baking dish. Brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil, season with salt, and bake 1 1/2 hours, then chop coarsely.
• Heat remaining oil in skillet. Add onions and peppers, and sauté about 5 minutes. Add eggplant, and sauté 5 minutes longer. Add tomatoes and olives. Season to taste.
• Place mixture in tagine or in baking dish, or leave in skillet if it is ovenproof and has a cover. Place fish on top of vegetables. Cover tagine, baking dish or skillet. Place in oven to bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or simmer on top of stove over low heat, about 15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

ALGERIAN SPICED STRIPED BASS TAGINE

Steps:

• Place 4 tablespoons olive oil in blender with cilantro, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, anise, cayenne pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt and lemon juice. Process until smooth.
• Cut fish in 4 or 6 portions. Season with salt and pepper. Place, skin side down in dish, and coat with mixture. Marinate 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 300 degrees. Place tomato halves in tagine or in baking dish. Brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil, season with salt, and bake 1 1/2 hours, then chop coarsely.
• Heat remaining oil in skillet. Add onions and peppers, and sauté about 5 minutes. Add eggplant, and sauté 5 minutes longer. Add tomatoes and olives. Season to taste.
• Place mixture in tagine or in baking dish, or leave in skillet if it is ovenproof and has a cover. Place fish on top of vegetables, skin side down. Cover tagine, baking dish or skillet. Place in oven to bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or simmer on top of stove over low heat, about 15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

ALGERIAN OKRA, POTATO AND TOMATO TAGINE

Steps:

• Place the okra in a large bowl. Salt generously, douse with the vinegar, and let sit for 30 minutes to an hour while you prepare the remaining ingredients, tossing from time to time. Drain the okra, and rinse thoroughly. If the potatoes are not very small (no more than 1 inch wide and no more than 2 inches long), quarter them or cut them in half.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy casserole or (preferably) an earthenware pot set over a flame tamer. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, until tender, about five minutes. Add the garlic, and stir for about half a minute until fragrant. Add the tomatoes, parsley, cilantro, spice mix, turmeric, saffron and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer, and simmer until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly and smell fragrant, about 10 minutes. Add the dissolved tomato paste, and bring to a simmer.
• Add the potatoes, okra and the preserved lemon. Cover and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, adding a small amount of water if the mixture seems dry, until the potatoes and okra are tender and the sauce they have cooked in is thick. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Mix all of the spices together. Keep in a jar in a cool place or in the freezer.