Charmoula Food

CHERMOULA

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.

CHERMOULA

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in your K-Mojo DigiMaster's chopper attachment.
• Give the ingredients a blitz. If the mixture is too thick, add a splash of water to loosen it up.
• Use as a marinade for out of this world's lamb chops or as a refreshing sauce with vegetables or grilled fish.

CHERMOULA

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.

GRILLED LAMB CHOPS WITH CHARMOULA

Steps:

• Have the grill preheated to medium-high heat.
• In a small bowl combine the salt, cumin, paprika, and cayenne. Sprinkle half of the spice mixture over the chops and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• For the Charmoula: In a food processor or blender, add the remaining spice mixture, the onions, parsley, cilantro, garlic, olive oil, lemon zest and juice. Blend until smooth and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
• Brush the chops with olive oil and put on the grill. Grill until the lamb is medium-rare, about 4 to 6 minutes on each side. Transfer the chops to a serving platter and serve with the charmoula.

CHARMOULA

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.

MUSSELS CHARMOULA

Steps:

• For the chermoula sauce: Saute the garlic and onions in the olive oil in a saute pan on medium heat. Cook until they begin to caramelize, then add the butter, cilantro, tomatoes, red chiles, saffron, cumin and paprika. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring. Reduce the heat to low. Add the stock and cream, then cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat. Puree with an immersion blender. Set aside.
• For the mussels chermoula: In a medium pot over high heat, saute the shallots in the olive oil for about 1 minute. Add the mussels and stir for one minute. Cover with 2 cups chermoula sauce (save any remaining sauce for another use). Add the butter and sambal. Cover and continue to cook for 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning. Place in a serving bowl, then top with the cilantro and serve with grilled bread slathered in harissa aioli.

HADDOCK IN CHARMOULA SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare fish and vegetables:
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Prick each potato once with a fork, then rub potatoes with 1/2 tablespoon oil. Roast on a baking sheet in middle of oven until just tender, about 25 minutes. Cool to room temperature and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Leave oven on.
• Heat remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté bell peppers, stirring, until just tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Spread potato slices evenly in an oiled 13- by 9- by 2-inch glass baking dish and season with salt and pepper. Top with peppers, then tomatoes and fish, seasoning each layer with salt and pepper. Sprinkle fish with lemon juice.
• Make charmoula sauce:
• Purée all sauce ingredients except oil in a food processor or blender. With motor running, add oil in a slow stream.
• Bake fish and vegetables:
• Pour sauce evenly over fish and bake in middle of oven until fish is just cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes.

CHARMOULA

Steps:

• Stir cumin in small skillet over medium heat until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to mortar. Add garlic; pound with pestle until paste forms. Transfer to bowl. Mix in cilantro and next 4 ingredients. Stir in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Do ahead Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; chill. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.

CLASSIC MOROCCAN CHARMOULA FOR FISH

Steps:

• Whisk ingredients together and marinate white fish fillets (orange roughy works well) for 30 minutes to an hour.
• Bake or grill fish; more sauce can be served with the fish (don't use sauce previously used to marinate raw fish; set some aside in advance).
• Charmoula can also be used to marinate chicken with good results!