Fish Chermoula
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Abuja, Nigeria ·
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Abuja, Nigeria ·
Fish marinated in chermoula, the North African herb, garlic and spice paste, then grilled or baked. Chermoula is used across Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, so no single country has been assigned to this page. Chermoula is essentially a marinade built around parsley and coriander in roughly equal measure, with garlic, cumin, paprika, lemon and olive oil. That green colour is the signature and it is also a warning: chermoula is at its best made fresh and used within a day or two, because the herbs darken and dull as they oxidise. Regional versions diverge from there, saffron in Morocco, more chilli in Tunisia, preserved lemon in some Moroccan households, but the parsley, coriander, garlic and cumin core holds everywhere. Its main job is fish, and the pairing is not arbitrary. Cumin and paprika stand up to oily fish without overwhelming white fish, and the acidity of the lemon does the work that a squeeze of lemon at the table would do, only from the inside. The one thing to watch is marinating time. Thirty minutes to an hour is what this recipe calls for and that is right; several hours in an acidic marinade begins to cure the fish rather than season it, which changes the texture in a way you probably do not want. A related page on this site covers braised snapper with chimichurri, which is a South American parallel to the same idea.
Chermoula is a North African marinade and sauce of parsley, coriander, garlic, cumin, paprika, lemon and olive oil, used across Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian cooking. Regional versions vary in the addition of saffron, chilli or preserved lemon, and it is most commonly used with fish.
Dietary tags are provided by contributors as a guide, not verified by AFN, and they depend on the products you buy. If you have a serious allergy, check every ingredient yourself.
Combine the parsley, coriander, garlic, cumin, paprika, ground coriander, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper and chilli in a food processor or blender. Blend to a smooth, vivid green sauce.
Taste it and adjust, more salt, more lemon, more spice as you prefer. Set aside a portion in a separate covered bowl to serve at the table, keeping it away from the raw fish.
Put the fish fillets in a shallow dish or a resealable bag and pour the remaining chermoula over, turning them so they are evenly coated. For whole fish, cut a few slits in each side and work the marinade into the cuts.
Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour. Whole fish can take a couple of hours, but do not go much beyond that, the acid begins to cure the flesh rather than season it.
Bring a grill, grill pan or oven up to medium-high. If grilling, oil the grates lightly so the fish does not stick.
Lift the fish out of the marinade and shake off the excess. Grill for 3 to 5 minutes per side depending on thickness, until cooked through and lightly charred.
To bake instead, set the oven to 400°F / 200°C and cook for 15 to 20 minutes.
Serve with the reserved chermoula alongside for spooning over.
Personal notes from Laila YetundeBe the first to rate this recipe
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