PERSIAN TAMARIND FISH

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Persian Tamarind Fish image

In this complexly flavored and highly sophisticated dish from the cookbook author Louisa Shafia, tamarind, caramelized onion, ground almonds and barberries are made into a thick and tangy paste that gets spread over fish fillets before baking. Thinner fillets work better here than thick, center-cut pieces. You want more surface area on which to spread the herbal barberry mixture, which can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge. If you can't find dried barberries, use dried cranberries instead.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     main course

Time 1h15m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

3/4 cup dried barberries or cranberries
8 (6- to 8-ounce) striped bass, mackerel or salmon fillets, 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick
Fine sea salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for brushing and drizzling over fish
1 large Spanish onion, halved stem to root, peeled and thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced or grated on a Microplane
3/4 cup whole raw almonds, coarsely ground
2 to 3 tablespoons tamarind paste or concentrate
1 cup tightly packed minced soft fresh herbs, plus more for serving (use at least three of the following: cilantro, parsley, tarragon, basil, mint, chives)
Lime wedges, for serving

Steps:

  • Put the barberries in a bowl and cover with warm water. Let soak for 30 minutes.
  • Rinse fish under cold water and pat dry. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides, brush all over with oil, and place fillets on a baking sheet. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to 2 hours uncovered, or up to 24 hours covered with plastic wrap.
  • Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until they start to darken at the edges, 7 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook until dark brown and reduced to half the original volume, about 20 minutes.
  • Add garlic, almonds, drained barberries and 2 tablespoons tamarind to pan. (If using cranberries instead of barberries, add an additional tablespoon of tamarind.) Cook over medium heat until fragrant, 5 minutes. Stir in herbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a bowl and cool to room temperature. Meanwhile, heat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Press barberry mixture on top of fillets. Drizzle with more oil and bake until fish is just cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter. Top with any barberry mixture that fell off the fish, sprinkle with more fresh herbs, and serve with lime wedges.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 584, UnsaturatedFat 25 grams, Carbohydrate 15 grams, Fat 39 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 44 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 604 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams, TransFat 0 grams

Pabiy Kamara
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This recipe was a disaster. The tamarind sauce was too sweet, and the fish was overcooked.


Red Walls
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I followed the recipe exactly, but my tamarind fish didn't turn out as flavorful as I expected. I think I might have added too much water to the sauce.


Marcel Jackson
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I made this dish for my family and they loved it. The tamarind sauce was a bit too sour for my taste, but everyone else seemed to enjoy it.


Ms Mazharul
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This recipe is a bit time-consuming, but it's worth the effort. The tamarind sauce is incredible.


Mzz Mamat
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I've never had tamarind fish before, but I'm so glad I tried this recipe. It was delicious!


Pixelated Akita
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This tamarind fish was a hit at my dinner party. Everyone loved it!


Jimmy Huerta
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I'm so glad I tried this recipe. It's now one of my favorites.


William Robert Cornwell
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This dish is amazing! I highly recommend it.


Stacey White
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YUM!


Misty Millenbine
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This recipe is a keeper! I will definitely be making it again and again.


Gamig Apon 4 4 4
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I'm not a huge fan of tamarind, but I really enjoyed this dish. The sauce was flavorful and not too overpowering.


Chima Darlington
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This is a great recipe for a weeknight meal. It's quick and easy to make, and the results are impressive.


Md Shadin Miya
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I love the sweet and sour flavor of the tamarind sauce. It really brings out the flavor of the fish.


Ufgkk Hjcb
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This dish was easy to make and turned out delicious! The tamarind sauce was a great complement to the fish.


Amir Nawaz
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I've tried many tamarind fish recipes, but this one is by far the best. The tamarind sauce is perfectly balanced, and the fish is so tender and flaky.


aminul islam Murad
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This Persian tamarind fish was an absolute delight! The tamarind sauce was tangy and flavorful, and the fish was cooked to perfection. I will definitely be making this again.