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Kesksou bel Hout wal Tomatish

You can use any firm white fish, such as cod, bream, hake, or haddock, for this Algerian couscous.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 6

Ingredients

For the Grain

3 cups couscous
3 cups warm water
1/2–1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons butter or extra oil
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 pounds large ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
Salt and pepper
2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/4 inches fresh gingerroot, grated, or crushed in a garlic press to extract the juice
Pinch of chili flakes or powder (optional)
A 14-ounce can chickpeas, drained
1 1/2 tablespoons raisins (optional)
1 1/2 pounds fish steaks or fillets, skinned
1/2 pound large shrimp, shelled
1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/3 cup chopped cilantro

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare the grain as described in “An Easy Way of Preparing Quick-Cooking Couscous in the Oven” (page 376), using the quantities given in the ingredients list above, and olive oil instead of vegetable oil.

    Step 2

    Sauté the garlic in the oil for a few seconds. Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper, sugar, ginger, chili if using, chickpeas, and raisins if using, and simmer 15 minutes.

    Step 3

    Put in the fish and cook 3–4 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook 3–4 minutes more, or until the fish flakes when you cut into it. Add the parsley and cilantro towards the end.

    Step 4

    Serve hot, poured over the hot couscous.

  2. Variations

    Step 5

    For a hot Tunisian version, add 1 teaspoon or more harissa (page 464) to the sauce and omit the chili pepper.

    Step 6

    Garnish with 8 green or black olives.

Cover of Claudia Roden's The New Book of Middle Easter Food, featuring a blue filigree bowl filled with Meyer lemons and sprigs of mint.
Reprinted with permission from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, copyright © 2000 by Claudia Roden, published by Knopf. Buy the full book on Amazon or Bookshop.
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