Lebanese baked fish in tahini – Samakeh Tajin or Tajin Samak
Serves 4
In our household, it’s not often we bake fish unless it’s salmon. For a change, we went for baking Cod loins in tahini – it can either be served with other mezza dishes (as keeps well in fridge & served cold) or as a main meal & served with rice & Cos lettuce salad with lemony garlic dressing.
𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓝𝓮𝓮𝓭:
650g Cod loins or any white fish fillets, skinless & boneless – we like Fish Said Fred brand
2-3 tbsp light olive oil to grease baking tray
1 tsp sweet paprika plus extra for decoration
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp seasalt or to taste
2 large onions, sliced Julien style (thin wedges)
2 tbsp light olive oil
1/4 cup water for onions
1 cup tahini
1 cup water
Juice of 3 lemon
100g pine nuts
𝓞𝓹𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓢𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓼:
Toasted pitta bread triangles
Lemon wedges
Pre-heat oven at 200C/gas 6 & bake in Pyrex tray (20cm x 31cm)
🥣 In a bowl, mix together the salt, paprika, black pepper & allspice – set aside.
🐠 Rinse & pat dry the cod & cut into 25g slices – cut fillet to keep slices intact. Grease a Pyrex tray with oil. Add cod, sprinkle the salt mix, coating fish on all sides.
🔥Place Pyrex tray in hot oven & bake for 30-45 mins until cod is cooked.
🥘 Meanwhile, in a pan add 2 tbsp oil over medium heat & add onions, fry until golden brown – this can take 5 mins. After 2 mins, add salt as onions get soft, add 1/4 cup water – this allows onions to brown without burning & cook another 3 mins.
🍜 In another bowl, add tahini & water & whisk together, then add lemon juice & whisk again. Add tahini sauce to the onions & simmer for another 5 mins – set aside.
🍤 When cod has finished baking, carefully take out of oven & onto a heatproof surface. Pour the warm tahini sauce over the cod, sprinkle pine nuts & a little paprika.
🔥 Crank up heat in oven to 230C/ gas 9, place Pyrex tray back in oven but on TOP shelf & bake for 5-10 mins until you have a golden crispy topping to your liking.
🍋Once you are happy with topping, take out & serve with toasted pitta bread triangles & lemon wedges.