Tunisian 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.

FISH BAKED WITH OLIVES, PARSLEY AND GARLIC: TAGINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Use a small amount of olive oil to grease a shallow baking dish that is just large enough to hold the stuffed fillets in 1 layer, and set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the remaining olive oil in a medium-size skillet over medium heat. When it is hot, add the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring, just until the onion is softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley and pepper, and set aside.
• Rinse the fillets and pat dry with paper towels. Lay the fillets out flat on a work surface, inside up. Spread the onion mixture down the center of each fillet, dividing evenly. Fold fillet over the onion mixture, and secure with a couple of toothpicks. Arrange the stuffed fillets in the prepared baking dish. Spoon the chopped olives evenly over the fillets. Arrange the lemon slices over the olives. Drizzle evenly with the remaining olive oil, then sprinkle lightly with paprika.
• Cover the baking dish very tightly with aluminum foil, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, and test the fish for doneness. It should flake when lightly touched with a fork. Serve immediately, accompanied by hot 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.