Algerian Okra Potato And Tomato Tagine Food

ALGERIAN OKRA, POTATO AND TOMATO TAGINE

Steps:

• Place the okra in a large bowl. Salt generously, douse with the vinegar, and let sit for 30 minutes to an hour while you prepare the remaining ingredients, tossing from time to time. Drain the okra, and rinse thoroughly. If the potatoes are not very small (no more than 1 inch wide and no more than 2 inches long), quarter them or cut them in half.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy casserole or (preferably) an earthenware pot set over a flame tamer. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, until tender, about five minutes. Add the garlic, and stir for about half a minute until fragrant. Add the tomatoes, parsley, cilantro, spice mix, turmeric, saffron and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer, and simmer until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly and smell fragrant, about 10 minutes. Add the dissolved tomato paste, and bring to a simmer.
• Add the potatoes, okra and the preserved lemon. Cover and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, adding a small amount of water if the mixture seems dry, until the potatoes and okra are tender and the sauce they have cooked in is thick. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Mix all of the spices together. Keep in a jar in a cool place or in the freezer.

GRANDMA'S FRIED OKRA AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Wash okra and cut off stem ends. Cut in about ½-inch pieces. Peel potatoes and chop into ½-inch dice. Put okra and potatoes in large bowl. Add chopped onion to mixture. Sprinkle cornmeal, salt and pepper over mixture. Stir until cornmeal is evenly distributed throughout mixture.
• Heat drippings or oil in large skillet over medium heat (oil should be hot, but not smoking hot). Carefully spoon okra/potato mixture into hot oil. Fry, turning mixture occasionally, until potatoes are done and mixture is nicely browned, about 10 to 12 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Makes enough for 4 or 5 hungry people.

ALGERIAN GREEN BEAN AND LAMB TAGINE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan or soup pot.
• Add the lamb, onion and garlic and sauté until lamb is browned.
• Add the salt, pepper, 1 tsp cumin, cayenne and saffron or turmeric and sauté a minute more.
• The original recipe calls for the sliced tomatoes to be added with the second onion/parsley/cumin; if you would rather do it this way, do not add them in the following step.
• Add water and tomatoes (if using here) and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 45 minutes.
• Add the green beans and simmer for about 10 minutes more, until almost tender.
• Add the sliced onion, tomatoes (if using here), parsley and remaining 1 tsp cumin.
• Simmer for about 10 minutes more.
• Serve hot over couscous.