Baked Chermoula Steelhead Royale

Ingredients

• 2lb 1 Steelhead filet deboned

• 1 lbs. fresh medium shrimp

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• salt and pepper

Chermoula Sauce:

• 1 large clove garlic (pressed)

• 1 large handful of parsley (finely chopped)

• 1 large handful of cilantro (finely chopped)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 tbsp Harissa

• 1 tsp Chermoula

• 1 tbsp water

• 3-4 Saffron threads

Vermicelli Filling

• 6 oz. Chinese vermicelli (bean thread or rice vermicelli)

• 1 tablespoon Harissa (or to taste)

• 1 teaspoon Chermoula

• tomato sauce (recipe above)

• reserved liquids from cooking the seafood

Method

Make the Chermoula Sauce

1. In a bowl mix the chermoula, harissa, herbs, olive oil, water, garlic, salt and half amount of the fresh herbs. Mix well until you have a nice thick marinade.

2. Using a brush, ensure the entire fish is covered in the marinade. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes.

3. Preheat the oven to 400 and bake for 20min. Might be less or more depending on the thickness of the filet. Ours was perfect at 20 min.

Cook the shrimp and vermicelli

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. add shrimp a little bit of the marinade and gently cook for 3-5 minutes and add the shrimp. Remove the shrimp from heat.

2. Boil some hot water and cook noodles to package directions.

3. Drain the noodles and cut with scissors to 1-2 inches size pieces. Add the noodles to the shrimp mixture. Add the rest of the herbs, Marinade and toss well until the vermicelli soak up the marinade color.

4. Once the fish is cooked, lay on a serving platter. Pour the chermoula shrimp and noodles on top. Serve with some lemon wedges.

Msemen (Moroccan Stuffed Flatbread) with Prawns

Ingredients

Filling:

• 1lb Shrimp (cooked)

• 1 tsp Harissa

• 1 tsp Kefta rub

• 1/2 cup Cilantro and Parsley (chopped)

• 1/2 Onion

• Salt to your taste

Dough:

• 3 1/2 cups White Flour (all purpose or bread)

• 1/2 cup Semolina or Durum flour (fine)

• 2 tsp Sugar

• 2 tsp Salt

• 1/4 tsp Dry Yeast (less in very warm weather)

• 1 1/2 cups Warm Water (not hot)

Method

For Folding the Msemen

• 3 cups of Olive Oil (more if needed)

• 1/2 cup Semolina (fine - you can use coarser caliber if you like)

1. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the water and combine to make a dough.

2. Knead the dough by hand (or with a mixer and dough hook) until very smooth, soft and elastic but not sticky. Adjust water or flour as necessary to achieve that texture.

3. Divide the dough into balls the size of small plums. Be sure the top and sides of the balls are smooth. Transfer the balls of dough on an oiled tray, cover loosely with plastic and leave to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.

4. While the dough is resting, set up a work area. You'll need a large flat surface for spreading and folding the dough. Set out bowls of olive oil and semolina. Set your griddle or large frying pan on the stove, ready to heat up.

Shape the Msemen

1. Generously oil your work surface and your hands. Dip a ball of dough in the oil and place it in the center of your work space. Using a light touch and quick sweeping motion from the center outward, gently spread the dough into a paper-thin, roughly shaped circle that's almost paper thin. Oil your hands as often as needed so that they slide easily over the dough.

2. Place the filling in the middle of the first flattened layer and shape as for Msemmen. Spread the filling around the centre of the flattened layer of dough.

3. Place the filled and slightly flattened square of Msemmen in another layer of flattened dough (basically one msemmen square inside another before we start the flatening process).

4. Slighly flatten the square.

5. Place all filled Msemmen in an oiled baking tray. Leave at least 15 cm around and between each one as we will flatten them further before pan-frying.Pan-fry each Msemmen until nicely golden from both sides (top and bottom).

6. Serve warm with a hot glass of Moroccan tea.

Flank Steak Shawarma

Ingredients

1 Flank Steak (about 9 to 12oz)

1 Tbsp Shawarma blend

1/4 cup Olive Oil

1/4 Lemon Juice

1 -2 Garlic (cloves, grated)

1 Small Onion (sliced)

Cilantro (garnish)

Method

In a mixing bowl add the olive oil, lemon juice and the onions. Mix well then add your meat, toss well and let marinade for min 30 minutes or for 2-3 hours in the refrigerator before grilling. Cook over the grill until desired finish is achieved and garnish with cilantro OR heat on a pan over high heat, and using your tongs, add the meat in. Spread the meat out so that as much of it is touching the hot surface as possible (and if you need to, do this in batches). Cook for 8 to 15 minutes, flipping and tossing occasionally (if you like less juice and for the meat to be more charred, you will likely go 15 minutes). Slice and serve or keep it whole if serving individual steaks.

Chef Sabrina Tinsley's Brodo d’Agnello allo Zafferano (Rich lamb and saffron broth with sumac laced pasta)

Ingredients

Lamb Saffron Broth

(serves 4-6)

• 2 lbs lamb meat with bone (such as shank or shoulder)

• 1 yellow onion, peel left on and quartered

• 2 stalks celery, cut in half

• 1 large ripe tomato, quartered

• 1 cup dry white wine

• 4 cloves garlic

• Two generous pinches of Villa Jerada saffron threads (or more to taste)

• Salt

Garnish

• 1 carrot, brunoise (fine, uniform dice)

• ¼ fennel bulb, brunoise

• ½ stalk celery, brunoise

Pasta

• 2 eggs

• 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour

• 2 tsp Villa Jerada sumac

• Pinch of salt

Method

Make the Broth

-pre-heat the oven to 400º

-place lamb, onion, celery and tomato on a roasting pan, sprinkle with salt and roast in the oven for 30-45 minutes or until the lamb and vegetables begin to caramelize (lamb does not need to be cooked, but the caramelization will add a lot of flavor)

-transfer lamb and vegetables to a stock pot, then deglaze the roasting pan with the white wine and loosen the browned bits with a rubber spatula, then pour the wine into the stock pot

-add 1 ½ qts water and the whole garlic cloves to the stock pot, bring to a boil over high heat then reduce to a simmer, add about 2 tsp salt, cover and simmer for 1 ½ to 2 hours or until meat is tender, add additional salt to taste if needed

-while still hot, strain the stock, reserve the lamb meat and discard vegetable solids (or find a different use)

-add saffron threads, allow to infuse for 30 minutes or overnight if possible

-chop lamb meat into small cubes, set aside or refrigerate overnight

Make the Pasta

-in the meantime, make your pasta

-pour flour out onto work surface, preferably wood or marble, make a well in the flour and drop in the eggs, sumac and salt

-with a fork, whisk the eggs and gradually pull in the flour from the borders, equally on all sides, continue this way until the dough becomes stiff enough to work with your hands

-knead the dough and gradually work into a ball adding flour as needed to make a stiff dough

-wrap with plastic and let the dough rest for 30 min before proceeding

-roll out small pieces of dough into long thin ropes

-pinch off pieces of dough the size of mini peas, and curl into mini shells with your thumb on the work surface

-transfer to a tray lined with parchment and allow to dry while you finish the broth (you may also freeze it at this point if making it for a later date, use within 1 week)

Plating

-bring lamb stock to a boil with the brunoise vegetables

-add the pasta (as much or as little as desired), cover and cook until desired tenderness, about 5 minutes

-once the pasta is cooked, add the cubed lamb, heat through and serve immediately, drizzle with Villa Jerada’s Desert Miracle extra virgin olive oil if desired

Chef Zarah Khan’s Green Tahini Tacos

Ingredients

Green Tahini

• 1 JALAPEÑO, SEEDED

• ½ BUNCH PARSLEY, LEAVES ONLY

• ½ BUNCH CILANTRO, STEMS AND LEAVES, STEMS ROUGH-CHOPPED

• ½ CUP MINT

• 1 TABLESPOON CORIANDER, TOASTED AND GROUND

• 1½ CLOVES FRESH GARLIC, PEELED

• ½ TEASPOON KOSHER SALT

• 2 TABLESPOONS LEMON JUICE

• ¼ CUP EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

• 1 CUP WHIPPED TAHINI (RECIPE BELOW)

Whipped Tahini

• ½ CUP TAHINI

• 1 CLOVE GARLIC, PEELED

• ¼ CUP LEMON JUICE

• 1½ TEASPOONS KOSHER SALT

• ½ CUP COLD FILTERED WATER

Method

To make the whipped tahini:
Add the garlic, lemon and salt to a food processor and pulse until the garlic is broken down to a paste. Add the tahini and pulse to incorporate. With the machine running, slowly stream in the water until the mixture is creamy and emulsified. 

To make the green tahini:
Add everything except the whipped tahini to a Vitamix or blender and blend on high to make a smooth paste. Pour into a bowl and fold in the whipped tahini, mixing until fully incorporated.

Mrouzia - Lamb Tagine

Ingredients

• 1 pound lamb (shoulder or neck)

• 1/2 tbls Ras-El-Hanout

• 1/2 tsp ground ginger

• Pinch of saffron threads

• 1 onion (grated)

• 1/2 cup (75 grams) dried raisins

• 3 tbls extra virgin olive oil

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 2 tablespoons of honey

• Almonds (whole raw)

• Fried almonds (whole blanched)

• 1/2 tsp salt (to taste)

• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Method

1. First make the marinade. In a bowl combine all the spices. Ras-El-Hanout, ground ginger, a large pinch of saffron, salt, and pepper. Add a little bit of water and mix well. For the meat, you can use lamb shoulder or neck – if you do not like lamb you can use beef instead. Pour the marinade over the meat, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight if you can.

2. When you are ready to cook the meat, do the following: peel and cut the onion, then grate it using the big holes of a grater. Place the raisins in a bowl and cover them with hot water for 1-2 hours so they become soft.

3. In a heavy pot, drizzle the olive oil over medium heat, add the grated onion, mix, and cook for a couple of minutes. Now add the meat with all the marinade, and brown the meat from all sides cooking meat for around 5 minutes until it changes color, this will help hold the flavors into the meat.

   Once the meat is browned, add 2 cinnamon sticks to the pot, and cover the meat with water. Increase the heat to medium-high, cover the pot, and cook until the meat is tender! This can take up to 2 hours meanwhile you have to check on the meat every 20 minutes or so. Stir the meat, keep adding hot water, and just check on it until it’s done.
   

   When the meat is done, which means it is very soft, you can easily cut it with a knife add the drained raisins. Remove the cinnamon sticks and add the honey that brings this dish together.
   Uncover the pot, and continue cooking on medium-high for around 10 minutes, until the sauce thickens and becomes syrupy.

   
   To plate it, first place the meat, put the raisins in the middle on top of the meat, pour the sauce on top and around the meat, then top the entire thing with fried almonds!!! Serve with Moroccan bread or French baguette.

Celery Kefta Tagine

Ingredients

• 3 Celery stalks

• 1 Onion

• 1 Garlic clove

• 1 Preserved Lemon

• 1tsp Ras el hanout

• 1tsp Turmeric

• 1/2tsp Black pepper

• 3 tbsp Olive Oil

• 1 cup of Water

• Salt to taste

Kefta Meatballs:

• 1lb Ground Meat

• 2 tbsp Kefta Rub

• 2 crushed Walnuts

• 1 cup chopped Parsley

• 1 cup chopped Cilantro

• 1 Green Onion

• 1/3 cup diced Onion

• 2-3 Mint leaves

• 1 Sage leaf

Method

To prepare the Kefta:

1. Mix the ingredients together and knead until the mixture resembles a dough ball

2. Make small little balls. You could make this ahead of time and let the Kefta sit overnight

To prepare the Tagine:

1. Thinly slice the onions.

2. Heat the olive oil and cook onions on medium heat for 5 minutes stirring occasionally until translucent. Meanwhile cut the celery into thin long pieces.

3. Add the celery to the onion and cook for 3 minutes. Add a tiny bit of water if the pan is drying.

4. Add your spices, and garlic. Cook for another 5 minutes while stirring occasionally.

5. Add liquid and let simmer until the sauce has thickened and the celery is soft enough. This should be around 15-20 minutes covered on a slow med heat.

6. Add your rolled Kefta balls and cook for another 5 mins and add chopped parsley and cilantro. Let cook for 5 minutes. Your tagine is ready to enjoy with some crusty bread. Drizzle with more olive oil before serving.

Roasted Fish with Chermoula

Ingredients

• 1-4 pieces of black cod (or any type of meaty, flaky white fish)

• 1 cup parsley

• 2 cup cilantro

• 1 tbsp paprika

• 1 tbls Villa Jerada Chermoula

• 1 tbsp Villa Jerada Harissa

• 1 tbsp cumin

• 2 threads of saffron

• 3 garlic cloves

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1/2 preserved lemons skin and flesh

• 1/2 cup of olives

Method

In a mortar pound all the ingredients except olives into a paste.
Rub the fish with the marinade and let sit for an hour.
Preheat the oven to 400. Place in the oven and bake for 12 to 17 min depending on the thickness of your fish fillets. Garnish fish with preserved lemon slices, olives, cilantro and parsley.

Green Bean Tagine

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion (diced)

• 2 cloves garlic

• 1 tsp turmeric

• 1 tsp black pepper

• 1 tsp of saffron (steeped in warm water for 30min)

• 4 tbsp olive oil

• 1 cup of mixed parsley and cilantro

• 1 can chopped tomatoes (we like Posardi)

• 2 tbls tomato paste

• 1 lb green beans (trimmed and cleaned)

• 1 preserved lemon (inside removed and thinly sliced)

• 1 cup warm water

• Salt to taste

Method

In a cooking pot (we use a Dutch pot) warm some olive oil, add your onions and cook until translucent, add garlic cook for another minute then add the tomatoes, herbs, spices and beans. Let cook for another 5 min then add the water and half of the preserved lemons (cut in thin slices). Reduce heat to med-low and cover. to simmer. Cook until the beans are tender. Once the beans are cooked add the rest of the preserved lemons in thin slices.
Serve warm with some more good quality fruity olive oil (we recommend our Atlas Olive Oil) and warm bread.

Moroccan Harissa Grilled Chicken

• 3lbs Chicken Legs

• 3 Tbls Harissa

• 1 Tbls Olive Oil

• 1 Tbls Honey

• 2 Garlic Cloves - grated

• 1 Lemon - squeezed

• Salt to taste

  Create marinade by whisking Harissa, Olive Oil, Honey, Lemon, Garlic and Salt until well blended. Add Chicken to the marinade to soak up all the flavors ideally overnight but doing so for at least an hour will also add some nice flavor when you’re in a pinch for time.

  Heat up your grill. Meanwhile create a small slit into each chicken leg to allow the heat to enter and cook the meat evenly so the skin doesn’t become too crisp. Cook roughly 6 min each side or until meat is cooked and tender and skin is slightly crispy.

Lamb Tanjia

• 3lb Lamb Shoulder or Beef Short Ribs

• 1 full head of Garlic

• 1 generous sprinkle Saffron threads (roughly 0.15g)

• 1 tbsp Cumin (whole)

• 2 tbsp Olive Oil

• 3 cups Water

• 3 Preserved Lemons (Beldi style)

Steep saffron in water for 1 hour minimum and cover the bowl so the aromas don’t evaporate.

In a Dutch pot put the meat, olive oil, garlic, water and saffron.

Rub the cumin between your hands to obtain some that are partially crushed. Cover the pot and cook on a med heat for 3 hours.

Ras el Hanout Saffron Clams

This dish is one of our all time favorites. It’s an incredibly simple way to impress at any dinner party with it’s complex fragrant, floral, earthy flavors.

• 2lbs Clams

• 8oz Cream

• 1sm Leek- finely chopped

• 1tsp Ras el Hanout

• 1 pinch Saffron

• 3/4 cup Cilantro

Wash and steam clams in a large pot until they open. Drain most of the water out leaving about 1/4 cup at the bottom. Add the cream and leeks then cook on medium heat until it begins to bubble. Add Ras el hanout and lower heat mixing until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. Toss in cilantro and cook for another minute or so, then enjoy!

Kefta Meatball Shakshuka Tagine

Ingredients:

• 3-4 Eggs

• 1tbsp Tomato paste

• 2-3 Tomatoes grated

• 1 Onion

• 1tbsp Harissa

• 3tbsp Olive oil

• 1 cup Water

• 1tbsp Kefta rub

• Parsley

• Cilantro

• Salt

In a tagine, sweat some onions in olive oil on a light heat for about 15 min.

Meanwhile make the kefta

• 1lb Ground Meat

• 2 tbsp Kefta Rub

• 2 crushed Walnuts

• 1 cup chopped Parsley

• 1 cup chopped Cilantro

• 1 Green Onion

• 1/3 cup diced Onion

• 2-3 Mint leaves

• 1 Sage leaf

1. Mix the ingredients together and knead until the mixture resembles a dough ball.

3. Make small little balls. Could make this ahead of time and let the kefta sit overnight.

4. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, spices, herbs and let simmer for 10 min until a good thick sauce develops.

5. Add the kefta balls, cook for 5 min, add the eggs. Remove from heat once everything is cooked or until the eggs are to your liking.

Serve with a nice crusty French bread or our personal favorite Batbout (homemade Moroccan Semolina flatbread).

Moruno Grilled Mushrooms

• 20-30 Shiitake mushrooms
• 2tsp Moruno blend
• 1 tsp Salt or to your taste
• 1tbsp Olive oil
• Lemon (to taste)

Using wooden or metal skewers, mix olive oil, Moruno and salt. Whisk lightly to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated. Put the mushrooms into the mixture and let marinade for 10-15 min. Place on skewers tightly and put on the grill at a medium heat. Turn frequently so they don't dry out or burn. Serve with lemon wedges - squeeze to taste.

Grilled Quail with Harissa and Sumac

Harissa Quail:

• 3 tbsp Villa Jerada Harissa
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 tsp crushed thyme
• 2 quail

Sumac Quail:

• 3 tbsp Sumac
• Half a lemon juiced
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp olive Oil
• 2 quails

In a bowl mix all ingredients to obtain a marinade. Soak the chicken into the marinade for at least 45 min. Grill (we did a bbq for ours) gently turning often enough to ensure nothing burns or overcooks (depending on the bird) about 7 min on each side or until cooked to your preference. Once cooked serve on a dish with some lemon wedges.

Harissa Fish Tagine

• Halibut or cod filet
• 1 tbsp Harissa
• 2 tsp Kefta rub
• 2 Anaheim fresh peppers
• 4 Wax potatoes
• 1 Fennel
• 2 Tomato
• 2 Small onions
• Olive oil
• 2 Garlic cloves
• Water
• Cilantro
• Parsley
• Salt

Start by heating olive oil, lay sliced onions onto the tagine or the bottom of your pan. Add the tomatoes sliced and the fennel, garlic, Harissa, Kefta rub and a little bit of water so the spices don’t burn. Cook for 5 min. Add potatoes, Anaheim peppers, cilantro and parsley chopped. Add more water to create a stew consistency. Once vegetables are almost cooked add the fish. Cook for 5-7 min depending on the desired thickness.

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Chermoula Asparagus with Carmelized Onions

Ingredients

• 1lb asparagus
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 Tbsp Villa Jerada Chermoula
• 3 Tbsp extra Virgin olive Oil
• Half of a lemon
• Salt to taste

Method

Heat the olive oil, add the onions and cook on a medium heat until they sweat and caramelize, stirring frequently for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile trim your asparagus and boil it for 3-4 minutes drain and cut in halves. Once the onions are cooked, add the asparagus, the Chermoula and stir until the Chermoula blends in to make a nice thick sauce. Add olive oil and drizzle lemon to taste.

Moroccan Vegetable Tagine

• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 4 medium yukon gold potatoes, peeled and sliced ¼ inch thick
• 1 large tomato, cored and sliced ¼ inch thick
• 1-2 Anaheim peppers, seeded and sliced lengthwise ¼ inch thick
• 1 clove garlic, very thinly sliced
• 1 ½ cups water
• 3-4 tablespoons best quality olive oil
• 1-2 tablespoons harissa
• 1 teaspoon kefta rub
• 15 saffron threads
• Sea salt + freshly ground black pepper
• About 8 small sprigs cilantro, plus additional to garnish

Scatter the onions over the bottom of a large sauté pan or tagine and salt lightly. Tile the sliced potatoes over the onions. Arrange the sliced tomatoes, peppers and garlic over the potatoes. Pour the water into the bottom of the pan. The precise amount will vary slightly based on the size of your pan, but you want enough to form a thin layer over the bottom of the pan, just covering the onions. Pour the olive oil over the vegetables. (Don’t skimp on the olive oil, it’s part of what makes the potatoes silky and soft when they’re done cooking.) Dot the harissa over the vegetables. Season generously with salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Sprinkle with the kefta rub and saffron then arrange the cilantro sprigs over the top. Bring the water to a gentle simmer over medium heat then cover and cook until most of the water has evaporated, the potatoes are cooked through and the tomatoes are starting to fall apart, about 20 minutes. You may need to reduce the heat a little. If there’s still a little water in the bottom of the pan when the vegetables are done, remove the lid and cook off the excess. Sprinkle with additional cilantro to garnish, if desired, and serve in the pan. Makes 3-4 servings.