Doights De Fatma / Fatma's Fingers - Tunisian Spring Rolls

Um Safia's Note:

Most North African & Middle Eastern countries have a version of these. In Algeria they are known as Bourek, in Turkey; Borek, in Morocco; Cigars, Brik or Bourek etc.... I have a recipe posted for the Algerian version filled with spiced ground chicken & preserved lemon. These rolls are a little bit labour intensive but once you get into the swing of it the time passes quickly enough! This particular recipe is by Dalila Amdouni -- the personal cook to a wealthy Parisian family living in Tunisia. Although the recipe states using uncooked prawns, I prefer to flash fry them in a pan until they have JUST turned opaque - no more a minute or two. (if you are new to making rolls, here is a step by step -in photos- demo for you: http://radiancerecipes.com/chinese-springrolls/)

• Total Time: 1 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 30 fingers ...

• 500 g shelled prawns , uncooked
• 700 g ricotta cheese
• ½ cup fresh cilantro , finely chopped
• ¼-½ preserved lemon , finely chopped (use the rind only & discard the flesh)
• 1 tablespoon capers , rinsed & drained
• 1 teaspoon tabil (Tabil - Traditional Tunisian Spice Mix)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon harissa
• 1 egg , beaten
• fresh ground black pepper , to taste
• 30 rectangular phyllo pastry sheets (approx 4.5-inchx6.5-inch)
• sunflower oil or vegetable oil , for frying

Directions:

1. Put the prawns in a bowl with the cilantro, lemon, capers, spice, salt & harissa. Add the ricotta & mix together using your hands or a wooden spoon.
2. Mix in the egg & the black pepper.
3. Take a sheet of phyllo pastry, fold in half to strengthen. Place a line of filling in the middle of the sheet, then roll up tightly - making sure to tuck the sides over the filling first. You can seal the fingers with a little water - this will stop the oil seeping in & the filling from bubbling out.
4. Pour enough sunflower or vegetable oil into a large frying pan to cover the bottom by 1/2". Heat the oil over a medium heat until it is around 180c, then fry the fingers in batches for around 8-10 minutes or until they are crisp & deep golden, you will need to turn them so that they cook evenly.
5. Remove the fingers wfrom the oil with a slotted spoon & stand upright on plenty of kitchen paper to drain. Serve warm. (if you do want to make these slightly ahead of time, you can fry them & reheat in the oven but take care not to leave them too long as the prawns will over cook & become rubbery.