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Egyptian Fish Tagine (Samak Tajine)

A community recipe for Egyptian Fish Tagine (Samak Tajine), adapted from the collaboratively edited Wikibooks Cookbook.

Moderate difficulty
Creative Commons source

Gather

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1 Onion finely chopped
  • 3 Garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • ½ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Coriander
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 1 can Tomatoes
  • 1 cup Stock
  • 1 Lemon juice
  • As needed Salt to taste
  • As needed Pepper to taste
  • 4 Fish fillets (such as Nile perch or red snapper)
  • As needed Parsley or cilantro, chopped (for garnish)

Make it

Method

  1. 1

    Heat the olive oil in a tagine or deep skillet over medium heat.

  2. 2

    Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant.

  3. 3

    Add the ground cumin, ground paprika, ground cayenne pepper, ground coriander, and ground cinnamon. Stir well to combine and let the spices toast for a minute to release their flavors.

  4. 4

    Add the diced tomatoes (including the juice) to the tagine or skillet. Stir to incorporate the spices with the tomatoes.

  5. 5

    Pour in the vegetable or fish stock and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir the sauce gently to combine all the ingredients.

  6. 6

    Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

  7. 7

    Carefully place the fish fillets into the simmering sauce, ensuring they are submerged. Spoon some of the sauce over the fish to coat them evenly.

  8. 8

    Cover the tagine or skillet with a lid and let the fish cook in the sauce for about 15–20 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.

  9. 9

    Once the fish is cooked, remove the tagine or skillet from the heat.

  10. 10

    Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or cilantro. It pairs well with Egyptian bread or rice.

Creative CommonsCommunity recipe

Source & rights

Where this recipe comes from

Adapted from “Egyptian Fish Tagine (Samak Tajine)” by Wikibooks contributors, revision 4511875, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This source recipe has been reformatted for Pantry Start but has not yet been kitchen-tested by our editors. Check current food-safety guidance and use your judgment.