Ingredients

Adjust Servings:

	3 Tbsp olive oil
	1 large yellow onion diced
	6 cloves garlic minced
	1 Tbsp smoked paprika
	1 tsp cumin seed or caraway
	1 tsp cumin
	1 tsp Kosher Salt
	1/2 tsp black pepper
	6 oz tomato paste
	1 lemon lemon juice
	1 tsp red chili flakes
	2 cups water
	8 x 5oz filets mild white fish cod, grouper, halibut, red snapper, sea bass, etc.
	3 cups dry couscous cooked according to package

Bookmark this recipe

You need to login or register to bookmark/favorite this content.

Libya: Hraimeh

Name: Libya: Hraimeh
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Libya
Ingredients: olive oil: 3 Tbsp; yellow onion: 1 large; garlic: 6 cloves; smoked paprika: 1 Tbsp; cumin seed: 1 tsp; cumin: 1 tsp; Kosher Salt: 1 tsp; black pepper: 1/2 tsp; tomato paste: 6 oz; lemon juice: 1 lemon; red chili flakes: 1 tsp; water: 2 cups; mild white fish: 8 x 5oz filets; couscous: 3 cups dry

Fish in a Spicy Red Sauce

Cuisine:

Libya

Ingredients

3 Tbsp olive oil
1 large yellow onion
diced
6 cloves garlic
minced
1 Tbsp smoked paprika
1 tsp cumin seed
or caraway
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
6 oz tomato paste
1 lemon lemon juice
1 tsp red chili flakes
2 cups water
8 x 5oz filets mild white fish
cod, grouper, halibut, red snapper, sea bass, etc.
3 cups dry couscous
cooked according to package

Directions

Hraimeh (sometimes spelled Chraimeh) originated among Jewish immigrants who came to Libya in the late 19th century. Hraimeh means “hot,” and this fish is cooked in a spicy tomato sauce reminiscent of harissa. This is often served as the first course of the Sabbath meal, or may also be served at Seder.

Libyan cuisine shares much in common with other North African countries. Couscous is part of many meals. Homes are very private; they often have no outside windows at ground level and guests are only invited into certain parts of the house. The family eats together unless there are guests, in which case men and women eat separately. Before the main meal, water is passed around for hand washing. Everyone eats from a shared bowl using only their right hand – it is rude to use the left hand.

Land is not well-suited for farming – only 1% of the land is used to grow food. In cities, people buy food at the local souq, or market. In Tripoli in particular, the food is heavily influenced by Italian cuisine, and pasta is common. Southern cuisine is more traditionally Arab or Berber.

Recipe Source: Encyclopedia of Jewish Food

Steps

1 Done	Heat oil in a large dutch oven. Add onion and garlic and cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring a few times to ensure it doesn't burn. Add next five ingredients (through black pepper) and cook an additional 2 minutes, until fragrant.
2 Done	Stir in tomato paste and lemon juice and cook for an additional two minutes. Add the water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes.
3 Done	Carefully place the fish filets in the sauce and bring to a low boil. Cook for 10 minutes, or until cooked through. Serve fish and sauce warm over couscous.