Bekkoula - Steamed Spinach Salad Tartine

Ingredients

• 1 bunch Spinach leaves, most of the stem removed

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 1/2 cup tomato (fresh or we like Posardi tomato sauce)

• 1/2 cup chopped parsley

• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro

• 2 cloves garlic (finely chopped or pressed)

• 1 tbls Kefta rub

• 1/2 teaspoons salt, or more to taste

• 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 1 preserved lemon rind (quartered)

• Pulp from 1 preserved lemon (finely chopped)

• 1 handful of Picholine olives

Method

1. Wash the spinach and drain well. Finely chop the leaves and crush the garlic then steam until spinach is wilted, about 2-3 mins.

2. Remove any excess liquid move to a frying pan. Add the remaining ingredients, stir to mix, and saute over medium heat for several mins until all the greens are wilted and well blended.

3. Serve warm or at room temperature, garnishing the salad with the olives and preserved lemon rinds and serve with bread or our favorite - on a tartine.

Zaalouk

Zaalouk is one our favorites on the Moroccan mezze repertoire.

Ingredients

- 3 Eggplants

- 4 Tomatoes (roasted or grilled)

- 2 tbsp Harissa

- 1 tsp Kefta rub

- 1 Garlic clove

- 1/2 cup of chopped parsley and cilantro

- 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

- Salt to taste

Method

Grill Eggplants and tomatoes until they blister. Dice the eggplants and finely chop the parsley and cilantro, then add to the tomatoes to a pan with olive oil. Cook for 5 minutes. Add Harissa, Kefta, garlic, salt and herbs.

Mix and serve.

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).

Kefta Shakshuka

Ingredients

Makes 4 servings

• 1 lb ground beef chuck
• ½ cup chopped cilantro, divided
• 2 teaspoons Villa Jerada Shakshuka Blend
• 2 ½ teaspoons Villa Jerada Kefta Rub
• 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt, plus additional to taste
• 1 small onion, grated on the large holes of box grater or finely minced
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large ripe tomato, diced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon Villa Jerada Harissa
• Freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 cup water
• 4 eggs
• Whole cilantro leaves, to serve
• Crusty bread or pita, to serve (optional)

Method

1. First, make the kefta (meatballs): combine the beef, ¼ cup of the chopped cilantro, 2 ½ teaspoons of the kefta rub, 1 teaspoon salt and the onion in a medium bowl. Mix well to combine. (I think it’s easiest to mix with your hands.) Using your hands or a small scoop, shape the mixture into walnut-sized balls. Place on a parchment-lined sheet pan and chill for at least 20 minutes.

2. While the kefta are chilling, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the tomato, tomato paste, remaining ¼ cup chopped cilantro, harissa, the 2 teaspoons Shakshuka blend, a generous pinch of salt and pepper and the water. Cook until the tomato has broken down and the mixture has thickened to a sauce-like consistency. Add the kefta. Cover and cook until the meatballs are almost cooked through, about 10 minutes. Use a spoon to make an egg-sized hole in the shakshuka. Crack one of the eggs into the hole. Repeat with the remaining 3 eggs. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the eggs reach desired doneness, about 10 minutes for medium-soft. Sprinkle the eggs with a little salt. Scatter the whole cilantro leaves over the shakshuka and serve hot.

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.