Chermoula With Red Chile Recipes

Steps:

• In a small, dry skillet, toast cumin and coriander seeds over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until seeds are slightly toasted and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Immediately pour spices onto a cutting board or mortar to stop the cooking. Once cool, crack spices with the flat side of a knife or with a pestle.
• Place cumin seeds, coriander seeds, garlic and lemon juice in a food processor or blender, and pulse to combine. Add herbs and sweet paprika, and purée until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the container when necessary. Add chile and, with the motor running, gradually drizzle in the olive oil. Stir in salt and preserved lemon, if using. Taste, and add more salt and lemon juice if needed.
• Use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Use as a marinade or sauce for fish, chicken, vegetables or meat, or as a dressing for roasted peppers and eggplant salads. Mix into yogurt as a dip for vegetables and meatballs, or spoon over hard-cooked eggs.

Steps:

• Prepare the chermoula paste: Add the garlic, cilantro, chile, cumin, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, a good grind of pepper and 3 tablespoons oil to a food processor. Pulse into a coarse paste and set aside.
• Prepare the pie: Add 3 tablespoons oil to a large skillet and heat over medium-high. Once hot, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and well browned, about 12 minutes. Add half the chermoula paste (reserve the rest), the spinach, 1 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper, and cook for 2 minutes more, stirring to combine. Remove from the heat, then add the dill and lemon zest. Set aside to cool, about 20 minutes.
• Line a 9-inch/24-centimeter pie or tart pan (tin) with a removable base with a piece of parchment paper large enough to cover the base and a little bit over the sides. (The excess will help you lift the tart when it's baked.) On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the pastry with a floured rolling pin to a 12-inch/30-centimeter square. Lay the puff pastry on the parchment, pressing in the pastry to fit the base and sides of the pan and cutting away any excess so it overhangs by about 3/4 inch/2 centimeters.
• Poke the base all over with a fork (about 10 times), then spread the cooled spinach mixture over the base evenly. Sprinkle the feta on top, then fold and scrunch the sides over the filling to create a rim. (Don't worry if it's not perfect.) Refrigerate the pie for at least 20 minutes, or up to overnight, covered.
• Heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit/200 degrees Celsius.
• Trim and discard the ends of the potato and use a mandolin or very sharp knife to cut the potato into paper-thin slices. Toss together in a bowl with 1 tablespoon oil, plus 1/2 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper. Fan out the slices on top of the spinach and feta in a circular pattern, overlapping slightly, to cover the filling but not the pastry rim.
• Place the chilled pie on a baking sheet and bake until cooked through and nicely colored, about 50 minutes. Set aside to cool, about 15 minutes, before gently transferring to a wooden board or serving plate.
• When ready to serve, stir the lemon juice and remaining 1 tablespoon oil into the reserved chermoula. Spoon half of the chermoula all over the pie and serve the remaining in a bowl alongside. Serve warm, or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Toast coriander and cumin seeds in a dry small skillet, tossing occasionally, until very fragrant, about 2 minutes. Let cool, then lightly crush with a heavy skillet.
• Purée toasted seeds, garlic, oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, paprika, salt, and red pepper flakes in a blender until spices are ground and mixture is very smooth.
• Add cilantro, parsley, and mint; process until well combined but slightly textured.
• Do Ahead
• Sauce can be made 3 days ahead; chill in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Place salt, garlic, paprika, cumin seeds, and cayenne or dried red pepper, if using, in a mortar and grind together using a pestle. Transfer mixture to a small bowl and stir in cilantro, parsley, oil, and lemon juice. Use immediately or store in an airtight container, refrigerated, up to 1 day.

Steps:

• Coarsely chop the cilantro and parsley. A scissors is a good tool for this; point it tip down in the measuring cup and cut the leaves. Then place them in a food processor and chop very fine, or chop on a cutting board. You should have 1 cup finely chopped herbs.
• Place the garlic and salt in a mortar and puree. Add a small handful of the chopped herbs, and gently but firmly grind until the herbs begin to dissolve. Add another handful. When all of the herbs have been mashed, work in the spices, 1/3 cup olive oil and lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more olive oil or salt if desired. Serve with grilled fish and/or vegetables, or with chicken.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Mix cilantro stems, chile, garlic, oil, tomato paste, paprika, red pepper flakes, honey, allspice, and 1 tablespoon vinegar in a small bowl. Set aside 3 tablespoons chermoula for serving.
• Place fish in a 3-quart shallow baking dish. Cut 1 pint of tomatoes in half and scatter around fish along with remaining whole tomatoes. Spoon remaining chermoula over tomatoes and fish, spreading across the surface with the back of the spoon. Season with salt and pepper and roast until fish is cooked through and tomatoes are soft and some have burst, 20-30 minutes.
• Transfer fish to a platter, breaking into large pieces. Remove and discard skin. Spoon tomatoes and roasting juices over and around fish. Top with reserved chermoula, then cilantro leaves; drizzle with more vinegar, if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Toast peppercorns and cumin seeds in a dry small skillet over medium heat, tossing often, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Let cool. Transfer to a spice mill or mortar and pestle and pulse or grind until coarsely ground. Place spices in a small bowl and mix in cardamom.
• Pound cilantro in mortar and pestle (or pulse in a food processor) until it's bruised and releases some of its moisture. Mix into spices along with parsley, oil, lemon juice, chiles, and garlic; season generously with salt.
• Chermoula can be made 6 hours ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

Steps:

• Pound all ingredients together in a large mortar and pestle or buzz in a food processor. You want a rough-textured paste. Note: I use all the coriander stems.
• Chermoula will keep several days in the fridge.