Algerian Spiced Striped Bass Tagine Recipes

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.

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 BASBOUSSA - SEMOLINA CAKE WITH SYRUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C Grease a large baking dish (approx. 11" x7").
• In a pan, place the sugar & water from the 'Syrup Ingredients', bring to the boil then simmer until you have a pale golden colour. Remove from the heat & stir in the lemon juice & the orange flower water. Set aside to cool, you can also store this syrup in the fridge until you need to use it.
• Place all the wet ingredients in a large bowl & using a hand mixer, mix until creamy. Add the dry ingredients a little at a time & mix well.
• Pour into your baking dish & level off the surface with the back of a dessert spoon or palett knife. With a small knife, score the surface into equal squares or diamonds & place a blanced almond in the centre of each square / diamond.
• Bake in the oven until golden - this will take approximately 30-40 minutes.
• Remove from the oven & cut through the scored squares / diamonds. Pour the syrup over the top & allow the Basboussa to soak up the syrup before serving. It is best to leave it for at least 2 hours for best results.