Tunisian Brik Essential Mediterranean Food

TUNISIAN BRIK

Steps:

• Place potato in salted water to cover, bring to a boil and cook until tender. Drain, and mash with olive oil.
• Heat 2 cups of grapeseed or canola oil in deep 10-inch skillet to 350 degrees.
• Place spring-roll wrapper on saucer. Place 3 tablespoons of mashed potatoes in middle, flattening the center to make a well. Dab it with 1/4 teaspoon harissa if desired. Sprinkle with some capers and parsley.
• Break an egg into the center. Taking care so that none of the egg seeps out, fold over one point of the spring-roll wrapper to meet the opposite point, to make a triangle.
• Gently slip the filled brik off the saucer and into the hot oil. Cook a minute or so, until golden on the underside, turn over and cook about another minute. Remove from the oil with a spatula, and drain briefly on absorbent paper. Prepare the remaining briks, fry them and serve while still hot, with lemon wedges.

TUNISIAN EGG BRIKS

Steps:

• Directions are given per brik.
• Place the phyllo sheet on a work surface. Phyllo is rectangular. Either cut it to make a square, or fold the phyllo so you work with a single layer sheet.
• Using only the top half of the phyllo sheet, spoon 1 tablespoonful of tuna onto the phyllo. Sprinkle 1/4 the amount of parmesan onto the tuna. (If using mashed potato, put 1/4 of the mashed potato onto the tuna and parmesan.) Dot 1 teaspoon of harissa around the mixture. Sprinkle on 1 tablespoon or less of parsley. Make sort of an open circle with the mixture.
• Now, crack open an egg, and drop it on this mixture in a way that the mixture won't let the egg white run out easily. The mixture should surround the egg.
• Fold the bottom half of the phyllo sheet over the top half. This will cover the whole mixture. Seal the edges with egg white as you make the fold. If you have excess pastry per brik, just fold the excess in towards the center of the brik; it will resemble an envelope.
• Slip this brik into hot oil. Fry 30 seconds on one side, or until the phyllo is a golden brown color. Turn it, and fry the other side, also 30 seconds, or until the color is golden brown.
• Continue with the other briks.
• Serve with lemon wedges to squeeze into every bite, salad and tomato.

TUNISIAN BRIK (ESSENTIAL MEDITERRANEAN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F Metl the butter in a small frying pan and cool the onion over low heat until soft but not brown, about 5 minutes.
• Combine the onion, tuna, capers, parsley and parmesan in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cut the filo pastry sheets in half widthways. Layer four of the half-sheets together, brushing each with melted butter. Keep the remaining pastry covered with a tamp towel.
• Spoon half the tuna mixture onto one end of the buttered pastry, leaving a border. Made a well in the center of the mixture and carefully break an egg into the well, being careful not to break it. Season with salt and pepper.
• Layer two more sheets of the filo together, brushing with melted butter, and place on top of the tuna and egg. Fold in the pastry sides, then roll into a firm parcel, keeping the egg intact.
• Place on a lightly greased baking tray and brush with melted butter. Repeat with the remaining pastry, filling and egg.
• Bake for 15 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• NOTE: the yolk is still soft after 15 minutes. If you like your eggs firmer, bake for a little longer.

CALAMARI MEDITERRANEAN

Steps:

• In a hot saute pan add the oil, garlic and calamari.
• Saute for 1 min then add the capers, cumin, red pepper flakes, chopped ancho chili and diced tomatoes. Cook for another minute.
• Add the white wine and lime juice and then simmer for 4 minutes.
• Finish by adding the chopped parsley, salt and butter.
• Reduce until sauce thickens.
• Serve with French bread.

TUNISIAN BRIK-STYLE EGGS

Steps:

• To prepare harissa, place caraway and cumin seeds in a small skillet over medium-high heat; cook 1 minute, stirring frequently. Place seed mixture, ancho chile pepper, and next 4 ingredients (through garlic) in a blender; process until smooth.
• To prepare brik, place potatoes in a saucepan; cover with water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes or until just tender. Drain.
• Preheat oven to 450°.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; swirl to coat. Add potatoes, turmeric, salt, and ground red pepper (if desired); sauté 6 minutes or until edges are crisp. Add parsley and green onions; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes.
• Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough on a large cutting board or work surface (cover remaining phyllo to prevent drying); coat phyllo with cooking spray. Fold sheet in half like a book. Coat bottom third of phyllo with cooking spray (narrow end should be facing you). Fold bottom third up. Arrange 1/4 of the potatoes in a circle in center of the bottom (folded) third of the phyllo, creating a nest for the egg. Crack 1 egg into center of potatoes. Sprinkle 1/4 of feta over egg. Sprinkle with black pepper. Fold top third of phyllo over egg, potatoes, and cheese, folding in sides to form a packet.
• Place packet on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Repeat with remaining phyllo, potatoes, eggs, cheese, and black pepper.
• Combine egg white and 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Brush phyllo packets with egg white mixture. Bake at 450° for 9 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.
• Spoon harissa evenly over brik, and sprinkle with cilantro.

SLATA TUNISIYA - TUNISIAN SALAD

Steps:

• Take the seeds out of the tomatoes and green peppers, and dice them so they are all the same size. Cut the onions into quarters, then into very thin slices. Salt it all.
• Cut the mint into tiny pieces, add this to the mix, then add the lemon juice. Mix it all up.
• Put this mix in the middle of a large serving plate or platter. Garnish the plate with lettuce leaves, arranged nicely around the edge of the plate. Garnish also with hard boiled egg, and radish. Slice the tomato at the end of the recipe, and arrange the slices around the edge of the plate, or quarter them, and similarly arrange them.
• Arrange the tuna on top of the vegetables in the center of the plate. Add the feta and scatter the olives around the plate. Drizzle the whole dish with olive oil.
• This should be eaten at room temperature.

SPAGHETTI WITH TUNA AND ANCHOVIES

Steps:

• If using fresh tomatoes, start by covering them with boiling water, leaving for 30 seconds, then draining and peeling.
• Remove the core, quarter the tomatoes, scrape away the seeds and coarsely chop.
• If using canned tomatoes, strain them.
• Heat the oil in a saucepan and cook the garlic gently, stirring until golden.
• Add the tomatoes, stir well, and leave to simmer for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, drain the tuna and flake into pieces.
• Drain the anchovies as well and chop.
• Slice the flesh off the olives and also chop.
• Add the tuna, anchovies, capers and olives to the pan, and season well with pepper.
• Check to see if you need salt.
• The anchovies are very salty so you may not.
• Stir and allow all ingredients to heat through, then stir in the parsley and dried chilli flakes, to taste.
• Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to the packet directions.
• Drain, turn into a serving dish, pour over the sauce and mix thoroughly.