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More than Moroccan

Season Nine, Summer 2009

More than Moroccan

This week we take traditional Moroccan ingredients and use them in Summer appetizers using the season's best veggies. Learn how to make Preserved Lemon, Avocado & Cannellini Dip; Deviled Eggs with Harissa; and Carrots with Carrot Top Chermoula Sauce. This is a great menu to invite friends over for this weekend- and don't forget the Maghreb Martinis!

Cooking Show Video

Chermoula is a Moroccan paste made with garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, cilantro, and parsley. In Moroccan cooking it is commonly used as a marinade for fish, chicken, and meat. This version includes the Vitamin A-packed carrot tops, which are delicious and tangy. We added a little yogurt to turn into a dip for colorful heirloom carrots.

August 5, 2009   |   0 comments
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Recipe

This recipe is by Kerry Saretsky of the blog French Revolution. Carrot ribbons make an elegant presentation.

10 medium carrots, stripped into ribbons with a vegetable peeler
1 tablespoon cumin seeds, toasted for 20 seconds in a hot dry pan
Juice of 1 lemon
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
¾ teaspoon honey
Salt and pepper
Cilantro to taste

Use a Y-peeler to strip an already peeled and trimmed carrot again and again into thin ribbons.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and salt it. Blanch the carrots ribbons for 45 seconds, then drain, and set aside.
Quickly whiz together the cumin vinaigrette by combining the cumin seeds, lemon juice, olive oil, honey, and salt and pepper in the blender. Blend until the dressing emulsifies and the cumin seeds are broken up into shards.
Toss the warm, dry carrots ribbons lightly with as much vinaigrette as needed. Place in whole cilantro leaves to taste.

Kerry Saretsky of French Revolution</a> gives us this recipe for a Moroccan carrot salad. Fresh sweet carrots are cut in the form of ribbons and seasoned with olive oil and cumin. This makes a great side dish for Summer as part of a Moroccan menu, but it can also slide into any meal easily.
August 4, 2009   |   0 comments
Tags: Side Dishes, Summer, Vegetarian
Recipe

These Deviled Eggs will make you a cocktail hour hero(ine). They are easy to grab, and deliciously spiced. They show off the beauty of homemade harissa and farm fresh eggs at their best (for the deviled egg and the mayo that goes into it).

1 tablespoon capers
2 sprigs fresh mint
1 tablespoon mayonnaise (preferably homemade)
2 tablespoons harissa
Lemon juice
6 eggs, hardboiled, peeled

Cut the eggs in half lengthwise, and remove the boiled yolk.
In a mini blender, grind together the capers, mint, mayo, harissa, and lemon juice. Add the egg yolk and blend until smooth.
Arrange the hard whites on a serving plate and spoon the deviled mixture into the center.
Serve with pieces of warm bread.

Farm fresh eggs are one of the best things about eating locally. We use our homemade harissa spice paste to flavor these deviled eggs, along with capers, parsley, and homemade mayo. These are lovely party treats that are easy to prepare and quick to be eaten!
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This delicious dip is unlike anything you have tasted. The smooth cannellini beans and creamy avocado are perked up by the briny preserved lemon. We add cilantro and mint for freshness, and cumin and coriander for some subtle spice. Serve this with toasted pita chips for a great party snack or use it as a stuffing for tomatoes for a light dinner. You could also include it in a mezze platter or in a veggie sandwich. The possibilities are endless! You can make your own preserved lemon but we love the pickled lemon from Alili, a purveyor of Moroccan specialty products.

August 3, 2009   |   3 comments
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You can buy Harissa in well-stocked supermarkets or Middle Eastern grocery stores. However, making your own sauce gives you creative control of which chiles and spices you use. Our version uses a mixture of Ancho and New Mexican chiles, as well as freshly roasted red peppers. We love this with our Harissa Deviled Eggs (see below), but you can also serve it with fish, meat, or roasted veggies.

August 3, 2009   |   0 comments
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