Cherry Tomato Sauce Spicy Moroccan Style Recipes

CHERRY TOMATO SAUCE (SPICY MOROCCAN-STYLE)

Steps:

• SAUTÉ: Heat oil in large skillet to medium-high heat. Sauté onions for 4-6 minutes until tender and lightly browned. Add garlic, seasonings, tomato paste (with a pinch of sugar) and harissa. Stir and cook for 1 minute.
• ADD CHERRY TOMATOES, JALAPENO AND WATER. Bring to boil. Then lower heat to medium heat and simmer, stirring occasionally. The total time for cooking sauce (this step and the next) will be about 6-8 minutes, After 5 minutes, help burst tomatoes by gently pressing with spatula or large slotted spoon to burst them (careful not to squirt yourself).
• FINISH SAUCE: Stir in cilantro. Continue cooking until tomatoes form a sauce the consistency you like. More cooking will make it thicker. Add more water to thin it out if needed. Taste and adjust seasonings e.g. more salt, sugar, harissa, cilantro. For a glossy finish, add a small pad of butter or drizzle on a bit of extra virgin olive oil if you like. See Note 3 for suggestions on ways to use the spicy tomato sauce.

SPICY AND SAUCY CHERRY TOMATO PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
• In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high. Pat the capers dry, then add them to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the capers to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add the tomato paste to the skillet and cook over medium-high, stirring frequently, until tomato paste darkens in color and deepens in flavor, about 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, the garlic and red-pepper flakes, if using, and cook, stirring frequently, until garlic is softened and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and reduce heat to medium. Cook according to package instructions until al dente.
• While the pasta cooks, add the cherry tomatoes to the skillet, season with salt and pepper and cook over medium-high, stirring, 5 minutes. Add 2/3 cup pasta cooking water from the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to fall apart and the liquid becomes saucy, about 10 minutes.
• Drain the pasta, and transfer it to the skillet with the sauce to combine. (If your skillet is too full to accommodate the pasta, you can transfer the cooked pasta back to the pot, then add the sauce to combine.) Stir in half the basil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Divide among plates or bowls and top with capers and remaining basil, plus cheese and whole basil leaves. Serve immediately.

MOROCCAN KOFTE WITH SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Soak eight wooden skewers in water for 20 minutes, to stop them burning.
• Using your hands, mix the meat in a bowl with the onion, coriander, mint and plenty of seasoning. Shape into 8 sausages, about 10cm long, then thread a bamboo skewer through the centre of each.
• To make the sauce, heat the oil in a pan, add the garlic and briefly fry. Add tomatoes, harissa, sugar and seasoning. Simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 mins until sauce has thickened.
• Grill the kofte for 6-8 mins, turning until they are nicely browned (be careful not to burn the skewers). Spoon the sauce over a warm platter, drizzle over the yogurt and put the kofte on top. Scatter with pine nuts and serve with pittas or couscous (recipe, below).

MOROCCAN SPICED LAMB MEATBALLS IN CUMIN CORIANDER SPICED TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Meatballs:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, mix lamb, Spice Mix, egg, and ketchup, being careful not to overwork the meat. Form into 1 1/4-ounce balls, about the size of a ping-pong ball. Place meatballs on a large baking sheet and bake for approximately 20 minutes.
• Sauce:
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, add the oil and heat, then add the onions and lightly saute until soft. Add garlic, shallots, cinnamon sticks, cumin, and coriander and saute over low heat, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add tomato puree and bring to a boil. Add stock and season sauce with salt, ground black pepper, mint, and parsley. Simmer for about 10 minutes and remove the cinnamon sticks.
• To serve: Add the meatballs to the sauce and heat until warmed through. Pour a small amount of sauce on the plate and add 5 meatballs per serving. Garnish with toasted slivered almonds, mint, and warm pita wedges.
• In a medium bowl, mix all the spices together. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

SPICY MOROCCAN EGGS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan, and fry the onion and garlic for about 8 mins, stirring every now and then, until starting to turn golden. Add the harissa and ground coriander, stir well, then pour in the stock and chickpeas with their liquid. Cover and simmer for 5 mins, then mash about one-third of the chickpeas to thicken the stock a little.
• Tip the tomatoes and courgettes into the pan, and cook gently for 10 mins until the courgettes are tender. Fold in the spinach so that it wilts into the pan.
• Stir in the chopped coriander, then make 4 hollows in the mixture and break in the eggs. Cover and cook for 2 mins, then take off the heat and allow to settle for 2 mins before serving.