Tunisian Fish Soup Recipes

TUNISIAN FISH SOUP

Steps:

• Serves 6-8
• In a 5-quart, heavy casserole, heat the olive oil and add the onion, fennel and red pepper. Sweat the vegetables over gentle heat for 8-10 minutes or until the onion is translucent and red pepper and fennel are soft. Add the minced chili and garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Stir in the harissa paste and cumin powder and cook, stirring constantly for about 1 ½ minutes. Add the saffron, tomatoes and half the herbs then pour in the fish stock or water. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 25 minutes.
• In the meantime, place the potatoes in a medium saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and cook the potatoes gently until tender, then drain in a colander. Keep warm.
• Stir the fish and potatoes into the soup. Simmer, covered, 5 more minutes or until the fish is just cooked through. Stir in the rest of the herbs and the lemon juice. Taste to adjust the seasoning. Spoon into bowls and serve with lemon wedges.

TUNISIAN AROMATIC FISH SOUP WITH POTATOES

Steps:

• Combine first 9 ingredients in large pot. Add 1/3 cup cilantro and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes. Uncover and simmer 10 minutes. Add fish and olive oil and simmer until fish is cooked, about 10 minutes. Using back of spoon, break up fish into smaller pieces. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro and serve.

LABLABI (TUNISIAN CHICKPEA SOUP)

Steps:

• Prepare the crispy chickpeas: Transfer chickpeas to a rimmed baking sheet lined with a clean dish towel or paper towels. Cover with another towel (or paper towels) on top, rubbing gently to dry. Remove top towel and let air-dry for at least 30 minutes and preferably 1 hour.
• As chickpeas dry, start preparing the soup: In a Dutch oven or heavy stockpot, combine soaked chickpeas, 5 cups water, 1 tablespoon olive oil, bay leaves and 1/2 teaspoon salt over high heat. Bring to a boil for 2 to 3 minutes, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook until chickpeas are tender, about 1 to 2 hours.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. While chickpeas are cooking, cut bread into thick slices, then tear slices into bite-size pieces. Place bread in one layer on large rimmed baking sheet and toast until crisp and light brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool on pan and set aside.
• Finish the crunchy chickpeas: Raise oven temperature to 425 degrees. Remove the towels from baking sheet with the chickpeas, and toss the chickpeas with 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and za'atar until well coated. Roast until golden and crispy, about 13 to 18 minutes, tossing halfway through. When chickpeas are still hot, sprinkle lightly more salt. Taste and add more salt or za'atar, or both, if you'd like.
• When the chickpeas for the soup are tender, discard bay leaves. Using a slotted spoon, transfer 2 cups of chickpeas, 1/2 cup of chickpea cooking liquid and 1/4 cup olive oil to a blender or food processor, and purée until smooth. (Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender to blitz half the chickpeas into a rough purée. Add the olive oil before puréeing. The broth won't be as silky as it would be puréed in a regular blender, but it will taste just as good.)
• In a large skillet over medium-high, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until golden, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon cumin and tomato paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute. Add a splash of the chickpea cooking liquid to the pan, and bring to a simmer to deglaze, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Turn off heat.
• Add chickpea purée and onion mixture to soup, along with harissa and lemon juice, and stir well. Add a little water if soup seems too thick, and more salt, if needed.
• To serve, divide toasted bread pieces among soup bowls, then ladle in soup. Garnish with lemon zest, parsley, olive oil, more cumin and some of the crispy chickpeas - you'll have leftovers. Serve hot, with more harissa on the side.

TUNISIAN SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a pot over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes. Mix in couscous; cook and stir until browned, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in water, zucchini, potato, green beans, carrots, tomato puree, coriander, chile powder, cumin, and salt; bring to a boil. Simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in milk.

CHUNKY TUNISIAN FISH SOUP (BROUDOU BIL HOUT)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan, then fry the onion until softened but not colored.
• Add the garlic and red pepper, cooked for 2-3 minutes then stir in the Harissa, spices, fennel, potatoes, lemon juice, and broth or water.
• Bring to a boil then simmer for about 20 minutes until the potatoes are almost cooked.
• Add the fish, tomatoes, herbs, seasoning, and water as necessary, and cook gently until the fish is tender.
• Serve sprinkled with the reserved fennel fronds and accompanied by good bread.

TUNISIAN FISH STEW WITH POTATOES

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients except the oil, fish and herbs in a pan with the water or chicken broth. Simmer for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
• Stir in the extra virgin olive oil and add the fish.
• Cook for another 10 minutes, then gently break up the fillets into smaller pieces and add the herbs.
• Season and serve.