Samak bi Tahina (Fish with Tahina Sauce)

Photo courtesy of http://homemade-recipes.blogspot.com


Tahina aka tahini is an oily, nutty sesame-flavored paste. It's color ranges from a light, pale beige to a dark beige with a texture ranging from smooth to slightly course with light/smooth being the most superior.Tahina is an essential flavoring in Middle Eastern cuisine as well as those of Israel and the Meditteranean.Tahina is used in a wide range of Middle Eastern dishes from dips, sauces for fish, dressings to vegetables and desserts.One of the most well known dishes to use tahina is the mezze dish hummus bi tahina.Below is a simple Arab recipe using this Middle Eastern flavoring.



Yeild:6 Servings
Ingredients:
2 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 tbsp. ground cumin
1/2 c lemon juice
2 lbs. cod fillets or other firm, white fish
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 c tahini
1/3 c pine nuts
2 Tbsp. fresh parsley
lemon wedges , for garnish


1.Preheat oven at 350F. Grease oven proof dish with olive oil.

2.In a bowl, combine salt, pepper,cumin, and lemon juice and mix to combine.Coat cod fillets with mixture and set in baking dish.

3.Sprinkle top of fish with onion,red pepper flakes, and pine nuts.Drizzle with tahini and garnish with parsley.

4.Bake for 45 minutes.Serve with basmati rice.