Posts tagged Morocco

Spiced Bass, Bulgur Wheat Salad, Lime

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Spiced Bass, Bulgur Wheat Salad, Lime

What started out as a loss of inspiration the other evening turned into a pretty delicious quick and tasty meal for my adoring sister and I for a casual and relaxing Friday night a few weeks ago. A breeze to knock up which was appreciated as we barely kept our eyes open after a long week and hard work. Tasty and nutritious with a beautiful girly scattering of rose petals. Sorry chaps, girls night in. After a few glasses of something crisp and aromatic (I recommend maybe a Gewürztraminer) I highly recommend topping this off with a helping of trashy Reeses peanut butter cups for pudding…A bit of an oxymoron to the meal but moderation in moderation.

Serves 2 

  • 80g bulghur wheat
  • Handful raisins
  • Juice 1/2 lemon
  • 1 large bunch coriander, chopped
  • 1 large onion, cut into half moons
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 lime, zest and juice
  • 200g yoghurt
  • 2 seabass fillets
  • 1 tbsp Ras El Hanout
  • Pinch rose petals (optional)
  1. Start by cutting the fish fillets in half and season. Mix with a tablespoon of olive oil and the Ras El Hanout and massage this in. Set aside.
  2. Slowly cook the onions now. Heat a splash of light oil in a frying pan and gently soften and fry the onion slices for about 10 minutes until just beginning to turn golden brown and crisp. Once soft and gold stir in the cumin and remove from the heat.
  3. Meanwhile, cook the bulgur wheat by simmering in boiling water until just tender (about 5-8 minutes). Drain well and leave to dry a little. Season.
  4. Stir the onions, raisins, the chopped coriander (save a handful for garnish) and mix to combine. Check the seasoning then add the juice of the lemon. Fork through to combine the flavours and set aside.
  5. Mix the yoghurt with the juice of the lime and the majority of the zest (save a pinch for garnish). Season and set aside.
  6. Now you’re ready to cook your fish. Heat a frying pan with a little oil until hot. Fry the fish, skin side down for about 2-3 minutes until crisp. Flip onto the flesh side for the final 30 seconds then remove from the heat.
  7. Jess - Moroccan Seabass3
  8. To serve, spoon half the yoghurt mixture into the centre of a plate. Top with some of the bulgur wheat salad. Finally top with fish and garnish with some chopped coriander, lime zest and rose petals.

Jess - Moroccan Seabass2

 

Pistachio and Feta Dip

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Pistachio and Feta Dip

Jess - Pistachio feta dip2 Jess - Crackers

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ot another dip I hear you say? And not another Moroccan and middle Eastern themed recipe. Yes. Please continue. A boozy and wonderful dinner party in the Wiltshire countryside this weekend was enhanced as it naturally would be by the addition of a Middle Eastern themed feast! And gracious guests of course! And the weather seemed to be on it best behaviour for most of the time rather suitably while we guzzled bubbly Saumur and nibbles. The downpour and lightening only theatrically threatened to steal the attention late into the evening when the food had already stolen my guests hearts. It reminded me a little of my recent venture to Morocco where a hearty downpour after a heavy humid day was still not enough to spoil the show once the hearty tanginess graced our dining tables.

Kicking off with a round (or two) of sparkling Saumur, my new and cheaper favourite alternative to Champagne, to set the tone, this cheesy spiced Turkish/Bulgarian dip went down a treat. A lovely alternative to the usual humus this is perfect with some mini ‘olive oil cracker tongues’ (see here) adapted with the addition of some sweet smoked paprika and rolled smaller and bite sized.

While the middle East is always a source of natural inspiration for me, both these recipes were inspired by a new cookbook purchase that has weakened my already full and bursting cookbook shelf. Bought on a whim having been won over in a trace by the initial sparkling textured cover and once in side, by the beautiful photos and recipe combinations that steal my foodie heart. Adapated slighty but quite welcomely without much amending. Persiana, Sabrina Ghayour. A delightful book for any cookbook collector, food lover or photography buff.

Serves 8 as a nibble with drinks

  • 100g pistachios, shelled
  • 75ml olive oil
  • 200g feta cheese
  • Handful chopped dill
  • Large bunch of coriander leaves
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1/2 red chilli, chopped
  • 3 tbsp Greek yoghurt
  • zest 1 lemon, juice of 1/2
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tbsp dukka (see here) to garish (optional)
  1. Blend the pistachios and oil in a processor for 30 seconds.
  2. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until you get a smooth but rustic texture. Season to taste
  3. Spoon onto a shallow bowl or plate. Sprinkle with any leftover dill leaves, the dukka and drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil.
  4. Serve with olive oil crackers.

Dips and drinks were followed by a slow roasted, shredded and falling off the bone leg of  lamb spiced to the nines with Moroccan love. Zesty lime yoghurt and cumin dipping salt on the side of a fresh allotment picked raw vegetable salad….

Serves 8-10

  • 1 large leg of lamb on the bone (2.5kg approx)
  • 50g butter
  • 2 tbsp ground coriander
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 tbsp sea salt flakes
  • Handful coriander leaves to garnish

Cumin dipping salt

  • 2 tbsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tbsp flaky sea salt
  • Pinch cinnamon
  1. Preheat the oven to 160°C and line a large roasting tin.
  2. Mark deep incisions over the lamb with a sharp knife
  3. In a small bowl, place the butter, spiced, thyme, and garlic and blend into a paste. Rub the paste over the land and into the incisions.
  4. Place the lamb in the tin and pour in 1 large glass white wine. Cover with foil and cook for 4 hours.
  5. During this time, baste the lamb with any juices every 40 minutes or so.
  6. After 4 hours, turn the oven up to 190°C. Remove the foil and finish the cooking for the final 1 hour uncovered to brown the top and crisp the skin.
  7. Meanwhile, for the dipping salt, dry fry the cumin seeds in a hot frying pan for a few minutes until fragrant. Tip into a pestle and mortar and grind. Add the salt and cinnamon and grind together lightly. Tip into a small ramekin or bowl.
  8. After 5 hours, remove the lamb from the over. Cover with foil and leave to rest for about 15 minutes.
  9. When ready to serve, carve the lamb which should tenderly fall from the bone. Carve into chunky pieces and slice the herbed skin. Serve on a large warmed serving platter, scattered with coriander leaves.
  10. Serve e.g some turmeric and cumin roasted new potatoes, fresh raw green salad and a limey creamy yoghurt.

Jess - Lamb Jess - Lamb2

Moroccan Chicken and Green Bulgar Wheat

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Moroccan Chicken and Green Bulgar Wheat

A

recent adventure to the Moroccan Atlas Mountains can only (and easily) be described as the time of my life and the best birthday I’ve ever experienced. A timelessly long relaxing weekend perched secludedly on the crumbly edge of the Atlas Mountains in the Ourika Valley in the heart of the National Park. Nestled high above the local Berber village I felt more than privileged to be there and in wonderful company. Basking in the golden sun, trekking through the local valley, wholeheartedly absorbing the culture and contagiously relaxing in the peaceful vibe of the Kasbah Bab Ourika. How many bedrooms can you watch the sun rise while gazing at snow caped mountains before enjoying a humble breakfast on a warm terracotta terrace? Kasbah Bab Ourika really is a special place. Saturated in charm, authenticity and the smell of fire and leather. And mint tea…lots of mint tea.

On arrival we were welcomed by the local Berber staff by the hydrating delights of said fresh mint tea. With only 26 rooms and more staff than guests, not once did we feel the infringing presence of the other holiday makers. We wondered the lavender filled gardens, bathed by the pool and drank tea until the sun went down. Or at least until an acceptable time arrived to sip on a cocktail or two.

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The view from our bedroom balcony was breath taking. An inspiring place to cleanse the soul so what better way to start my birthday than a yoga practice and some ‘sun’ salutations at sunrise.

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My birthday ticked casually by starting with a stimulating 12km trek through the undulating local National Park, an indulgent foodie buffet lunch served in the sun washed terrace before unwinding with a Moroccan massage in the lavender filled gardens.


Chickpeas

Buffet

Ice cream

Only then did the heavens open and cool the hot parched ground. Naturally we retired to the leather filled bar with a crisp class of bubbly by a soothing fire in our dinner finery.

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The peace and tranquility was broken only momentarily by a crazy and amazing venture into Marakesh! What a place. The flavours and familiar smells of the ingredients I have accustomed myself to using were 100 times stronger and more intense in this vibrant city making my reluctant return to the English supermarkets even more disappointing. The mint seemed fresher and the spices seemed stronger. Inspiration for my favourite cuisine could not be ignored on return home. Cucumber martinis to cool us down before tackling the vibrant market as the sun went down

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Tagine

Town

After having commitedly devoured the tender delights of tagine every night I felt an alternative recipe in order. Taking inspiration from the African bliss I enjoyed this weekends meal. Clean, fresh, flavoursome and delicious. Moroccan spiced chicken with green herby bulghar wheat and sharp lime yoghurt.

Serves 2

  • 60g bulgar wheat
  • 1 small onion, sliced
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 25g currants, soaked in boiling water/orange juice for 20 minutes
  • 50g pistachios, chopped
  • Large handful each of dill, parsley, basil and mint
  • 1 lemon
  • 2 chicken supremes/chicken breasts
  • 2 heaped tsp Ras el Hanout
  • Rapeseed oil
  • 50g yoghurt
  • 1 large lime
  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Marinade your chicken in the Ras El Hanout, salt and pepper and a few tbsp’s of rapeseed oil in a large bowl for at least 30 minutes.
  2. When ready to cook, heat a frying pan over a high heat and drizzle with some more oil. Sear the chicken on the skin side to get a really crispy and golden skin for up to 5 minutes. Once crisp, turn and seal on the flesh side for 1 minute. Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until tender and cooked. Leave to rest for 5 minutes and keep warm.
  3. Meanwhile make the bulgar wheat salad. Simmer the wheat in boiling water (about 5 x as much water as wheat) for about 10 minutes or so or until tender and soft. Drain well and fluff with a fork. Keep warm in the pan with a lid on.
  4. Heat a frying pan over a medium heat and gently fry the onion until soft and translucent. Add the ground cumin for the final few minutes to cook out. Add these to the warm wheat.
  5. Combine the green herbs in a food processor (or finely chop). Add seasoning, the juice from the lemon and a little oil to loosen if needed. Scrap the herby mixture into the bulgar wheat and stir well.
  6. Check the seasoning of the wheat before adding the currants (drained) and the chopped nuts.
  7. Combine the yoghurt with the lime juice and some salt and pepper.
  8. When the chicken is cooked and rested, slice in half on the diagonal.
  9. Spoon a ring of yoghurt onto your serving plate and fill the centre with a generous helping of green bulgar wheat salad. Top with the sliced chicken and scatter over any remaining herbs.
  10. Enjoy!
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