Chreime North African Fish Stew Recipes

EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA FISH STEW

Steps:

• Cut the bacon slices into 1-inch squares. Brown them in the bottom of a 10-to-12-quart stockpot over medium heat. Once bacon is crisp, remove it and reserve, leaving the bacon fat in the pot. Whisk the tomato paste into the fat, making sure you scrape up all the brown bits left from browning the bacon.
• Turn the heat off and begin layering the ingredients in the stockpot. Start with a layer of potatoes, followed by a layer of onions and garlic, followed by a layer of fish. Top the fish with roughly a third of the salt, a third of the chile flakes and 1 bay leaf. Repeat this layering process two more times.
• Fill the pot with enough cool water to just barely reach the top of the fish. (If there's a little fish peeking out over the top, that's O.K. - better than if it's swimming in water.) Cover the pot with a tightfitting lid and slowly bring to a boil over medium-high heat. (Throughout the cooking, resist the urge to stir.) Once it starts to boil, reduce heat and let it cook, covered, at a high simmer for about 15 minutes. Check the potatoes for doneness. They should be barely tender, not falling apart.
• Use a large spoon to remove the fat from the surface of the soup, and discard. Taste the broth and add more salt if needed. Then, with the stew at a good simmer, add the eggs one by one in a single layer over the top. (Crack each egg into a small cup before dropping it in.) Cook the eggs for 5 minutes until they are lightly set.
• As soon as the eggs are lightly set, use a large ladle to portion out the stew. A proper serving is at least half a fish steak, some potatoes, some onions and an egg swimming in broth. Shower each bowl with bacon, and serve immediately with a piece or two of bread, if desired.

CHREIME (NORTH AFRICAN FISH STEW)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large wide saucepan, add the garlic and spices and fry over high heat while stirring until the oil becomes aromatic. Add the tomato paste and stir until the paste blends with the oil. Add one cup of water and cook covered for 5 minutes. Carefully add the fish steaks to the sauce, bring to a boil, cover and lower the heat. If the sauce does not completely cover the fish steaks, turn them once halfway through the cooking. Cook for 10 minutes or until the fish is done but still firm and juicy.

NORTH AFRICAN BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Cook and stir beef in a stockpot over medium heat until browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onions and garlic; cook and stir until onions are softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir harissa into beef mixture until coated; cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Season beef mixture with salt and pepper.
• Pour enough water over beef to completely cover ingredients and bring to a boil. Add potatoes and tomatoes to stew; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until beef and potatoes are tender, 2 to 3 hours.

AFRICAN FISH STEW

Steps:

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add seafood stock and tomato paste. Add bok choy, garlic, gumbo file, salt, pepper, and saffron; cook and stir until well incorporated, about 5 minutes. Add tilapia. Let simmer until flavors blend and fish flakes easily with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes.