Samak Harra

Name: Samak Harra
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Egyptian
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs whole fish (sea bass or snapper), cleaned and gutted; 2 lg red bell peppers, roasted and peeled; 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped; 4 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 2 small red chili peppers, minced; 4 tbsp fresh lemon juice; 6 tbsp olive oil; 1/4 tsp ground cumin; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper

Whole fish baked with a fiery red pepper and cilantro sauce, a vibrant and aromatic Middle Eastern dish.

40 minMediumServes 2320 cal/serving

EgyptianDinnerOvenStandard

Ingredients

1.5 lbs whole fish (sea bass or snapper), cleaned and gutted
2 lg red bell peppers, roasted and peeled
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
4 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 small red chili peppers, minced
4 tbsp fresh lemon juice
6 tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 400°F. Place the 1.5 lbs cleaned and gutted whole fish (sea bass or snapper) on a sheet of foil or in a baking dish.
2

Roast the 2 lg roasted and peeled red bell peppers directly over a gas flame or under the broiler until charred all over, about 8 minutes. Place in a plastic bag for 5 minutes to steam. Peel off the charred skin.
3

In a food processor, combine roasted peppers, 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 small minced red chili peppers, 4 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 6 tbsp olive oil, 1/4 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Pulse until you achieve a chunky sauce consistency.
4

Spread half of the sauce over and inside the cavity of the fish.
5

Bake the fish for 15-20 minutes until the flesh flakes easily when tested with a fork. Internal temperature should reach 145°F.
6

Transfer the fish to a serving platter and top with the remaining sauce.
7

Serve hot with rice or flatbread.

Questions

How long does Samak Harra keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within two days (seafood turns fast). Reheat covered in a 300 F oven until warmed through.

Can I halve or double Samak Harra?

Yes. As written it serves 2. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubled, split it across two pans and rotate them halfway; one crowded pan bakes unevenly.

Serve it with

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