Harissa

Dave DeWitt Leave a Comment

This recipe and others can be found in the following article:

Moroccan Tagines

by Nancy Gerlach 

 

Tagines or tajines are wonderfully aromatic North African stews that combine meats, poultry, chicken, or fish with fruits, vegetables and a large variety of spices. The centerpiece of Moroccan meals, there are literally hundreds of traditional tagines as well as many regional variations 

Ingredients

7 dried red New Mexican chiles, stems and seeds removed; or substitute 5 small hot chiles like piquins
1 tablespoon ground paprika
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
5 cloves garlic, peeled
1 teaspoon cumin seeds; or substitute 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
2 tablespoons lemon juice, preferably fresh
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground olive oil

Instructions

Place the chiles in a bowl and cover them with very hot water. Allow the chiles to steep for 15 to 20 minutes to soften. Drain the chiles and discard the water.

Place all the ingredients, except the oil, in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. With the motor running, add the oil in a steady stream to form a thick sauce.

This sauce may be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Be sure to cover the top with a couple of drops of olive oil to prevent the harissa from turning brown.

Harissa and Seven-Vegetable Couscous

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This recipe and others can be found in the following article:

Moroccan Tagines

by Nancy Gerlach 

 

Tagines or tajines are wonderfully aromatic North African stews that combine meats, poultry, chicken, or fish with fruits, vegetables and a large variety of spices. The centerpiece of Moroccan meals, there are literally hundreds of traditional tagines as well as many regional variations 

 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup harissa, store-bought or see recipe here
4 dried piquin chiles
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 quart vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon saffron or substitute ground turmeric
1 large potato, peeled and diced
4 medium canned tomatoes, chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and julienne-cut
1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 small zucchini, julienne-cut
1 small eggplant, peeled and cubed
1 cup frozen peas
4 cups couscous
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup lemon juice, preferably fresh
Chopped flat leaf parsley for garnish
 
Harissa and Seven-Vegetable Coucous 

Instructions

Heat a Dutch oven or stockpot over high heat and add the oil; when hot, reduce the heat, add the onion and garlic and saute until soft. Add the harissa, chiles, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice and continue to cook for 5 minutes.

Add the broth, saffron, and potato and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer the stew for an hour, adding water if necessary to thin if it becomes too thick.

Add the tomatoes, carrots, and chickpeas and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the zucchini, eggplant, and peas, and simmer until the vegetables are done. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

Put the couscous in a bowl and add an equal amount of boiling water; cover and let stand for 5 minutes.

Stir the lemon juice into the stew, taste and adjust the seasonings.

To serve: mound the couscous on a platter, top with the stew and garnish with the parsley. Serve with additional harissa sauce on the side.

Nam Phrik Kapi with Fresh and Fried Vegetables

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This recipe and others can be found in the following article:

Making Thailand’s “Chile Water”

Story and Photos by Austin Bush

 

Nam phrik kapi is probably the most well known nam phrik in Thailand. As the name suggests, it is made with kapi, a salted and fermented paste of fine shrimp known as khoei and is always served with fresh and/or parboiled vegetables, as well as egg-battered deep-fried vegetables, as described below. The amount of ingredients listed below for the nam phrik are largely for reference; a Thai chef would virtually never use measuring instruments to cook, and a dish is usually made to taste, keeping in mind a desired balance of the four tastes: sour, spicy, salty and sweet. 

Ingredients

For the sauce:

3 or more phrik khii nuu (very small Thai chiles)

1 tablespoon garlic

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon lime juice

1/4 cup kapi (Thai shrimp paste)

1 tablespoon water

2 tablespoons makheua phuang (pea-sized Thai eggplant)

For the vegetables:

4 eggs

1 Chinese or Japanese eggplant, sliced into 1 cm thick rounds and put in a bowl of water mixed with 1 tablespoon of vinegar to prevent browning

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 bunch cha om (Thai acacia leaves) or fresh basil leaves

An assortment of fresh Thai vegetables, such as eggplant, cabbage, carrot and green beans, cut into bite-sized pieces.

Instructions

Using a mortar and pestle, grind the phrik khii nuu with the garlic until a rough paste is formed. Add the sugar and the lime juice and grind together. Add the shrimp paste and continue grinding until a paste forms. Add water. If the mixture is still too thick, add additional water, a teaspoonful at a time (nam phrik kapi should have the consistency of a slightly watery paste). Taste and add more chiles, lime or sugar, to taste. Add the makheua phuang, breaking slightly, but not grinding, with the pestle. Put nam phrik kapi in a serving bowl.

Beat eggs with a few drops of fish sauce or a pinch of salt, divide into two bowls and set aside. Drain eggplant and mix thoroughly with one of the bowls of egg. Heat cooking oil in a wok and taking two or three slices at a time, fry the eggplant in oil on both sides until crispy. Set on paper towels to drain. Remove the tender cha om leaves and blend with the eggs. Fry mixture in hot oil as a thick omelet or frittata, turning over to cook on both sides. Drain on a paper towel until cool then slice into bite-sized squares.

Arrange the fresh and fried vegetables on a plate and serve with rice and bowl of nam phrik kapi.

Shrimp and Crab Curry

Dave DeWitt Leave a Comment

This recipe and others can be found in the 12-part illustrated series “A World of Curries”. You can read all about this unique Indian flavor here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
2 large onions, chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons 
bafat (Hurry Curry, see recipe here)
4 large tomatoes, chopped
2 cups coconut milk, recipe 
here
16 large shrimp, shelled and deveined
1 cup fresh or canned crab meat
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1/4 cup bay or curry leaves
Salt to taste

 

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large skillet for 2 minutes over medium heat. Add the onions and minced garlic and fry over low heat for 1 minute. 

Add the bafat powder, stir well, and fry for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and coconut milk, and cook over medium heat for 8 minutes.

Add the shrimp, crab meat, turmeric powder, vinegar, bay or curry leaves and cook for 15 minutes. Add salt to taste.  Remove the bay leaves before serving.

Coconut Milk Rice (Nasi Lemak)

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This recipe and others can be found in the 12-part illustrated series “A World of Curries”. You can read all about this unique Indian flavor here.

Ingredients

2 cups long grain rice, washed and drained
3 1/2 cups coconut milk (see recipe, above)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon butter
2 whole cloves
pandan leaves (screwpine), tied in a knot (optional)

 

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to simmer, cover the pot, and cook until the rice is done and fluffy, about 35 to 40 minutes.  Remove the cloves and screwpine leaves before serving.