Samke Harra (Lebanese Spicy Fish with Cilantro and Tahini)
Local name: سمكة حرة
In short: White fish fillets baked under a fiery paste of cilantro, garlic, chili, lemon and tahini, scattered with toasted pine nuts. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 415 kcal
Samke harra is the spicy fish of the Lebanese coast, where fish is baked under a thick paste of cilantro, garlic, chili and lemon, thickened with tahini and scattered with toasted pine nuts. The sauce keeps the fish moist in the oven and gives it a bold, herby heat. Serve it with rice or bread and a squeeze of lemon.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and brush a baking dish with the 1 tbsp olive oil. Pat the fish dry, season with 1 tsp salt and the pepper and lay the fillets in the dish.
- In a bowl, stir the cilantro, garlic, chili flakes, cumin, coriander, 4 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, tahini and 1/2 tsp salt into a thick paste. Add 2 to 3 tbsp water if it is too stiff to spread.
- Spread the paste evenly over the fish.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork and reaches 63°C (145°F).
- While the fish bakes, toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes, until golden.
- Scatter the pine nuts over the fish and serve hot with rice and lemon wedges.
Tips
- A whole sea bream or sea bass works well too. Slash the skin a few times, press the paste into the cuts and bake for 25 to 30 minutes at the same temperature.
- Control the heat with the chili, and start with 1 tsp of flakes for a medium heat. Toasted, chopped walnuts are a common alternative to pine nuts.
Questions and answers
Is samke harra very spicy?
It has a clear chili heat, but you control it. Use 1 tsp chili flakes for medium and up to 2 tsp, or an extra fresh chili, for hot.
Can I make samke harra in a pan?
Yes. Sear the fish for 2 minutes per side, spoon over the paste, cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 minutes, until the fish flakes.
What do you serve with samke harra?
Plain rice or rice with vermicelli, a green salad and lemon wedges. Warm pita is good for mopping up the sauce.
How long does it take to make Samke Harra (Lebanese Spicy Fish with Cilantro and Tahini)?
About 40 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Samke Harra (Lebanese Spicy Fish with Cilantro and Tahini)?
About 415 kcal per serving, with 40 g of protein, 5 g of carbohydrates and 26 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 415 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 40 g |
| Carbohydrates | 5 g |
| Fat | 26 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 980 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
