Tunisian Ragout With Merguez

Submitted by Da Huz

"Delicious beef sausages cooked in a tomato sauce. Adapted from "Tunisia: Mediterranean Cuisine" published by Konemann. This recipe has five separate parts. Please read all the directions before you start cooking. Try to time everything so that they're done at the same time. We got pretty close. Also, traditional cuisine would use preserved lemons, but we tried to make our own preserved lemons and they fermented on us. So fresh works too."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 30mins
• Ingredients: 27
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 2 zucchini
• 2 cups basmati rice
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1⁄2 tablespoon cumin seed (whole is best)
• 1 teaspoon coriander seed (whole or ground)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1⁄2 lb potato
• olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion
• 6 garlic cloves
• 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1⁄2 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon caraway seed
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• olive oil
• 6 ounces tomato paste
• 2 cups water
• 4 green bell peppers, cut into thin strips
• 1 lemon, cut into thin semi-circles

directions

1. PART 1: Hard-boil the eggs for 10 minutes, slice into 1/4 inch strips, serve as a garnish.
2. PART 2: Slice the zucchini into 1/4 inch strips, grill over low heat for 5-10 minutes. They should not be burnt, but should have beautiful char marks from the grill, and should be soft throughout.
3. PART 3: Place 3 tbsp olive oil in large saucepan and heat. Place cinnamon, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and garlic powder into the oil and lightly fry for about 10 minutes so that flavors permeate the oil. Keep heat low enough that oil does not smoke.
4. Add rice and stir to coat with oil and then immediately add 4 cups water.
5. Cover with lid and heat to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, or until water has absorbed and rice is soft and fluffy.
6. PART 4: Cut potatoes lengthwise into wedges (8 wedges per potato). Toss in olive oil with salt and pepper. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 375 for 40 minutes.
7. PART 5: Chop onion and garlic in food processor until pieces are very small (less than 1/4 inch). Combine with beef, parsley, coriander seed, caraway seeds, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper into a mixing bowl.
8. Mix with your hands, then form SMALL sausages by squeezing a small amount of mixture in your hands. Sausages should be about the size of a large thumb.
9. Heat olive oil in a skillet until very hot, then brown sausages on all sides. Sausages should be almost completely cooked during this step. Remove and set aside.
10. Turn off heat from under skillet, then add tomato paste and water. Heat to a simmer, stirring to mix. Simmer about 5 minutes.
11. Return sausages to skillet and continue simmering for 30 minutes.
12. Serve as follows: rice on bottom, then sausage and sauce, then alternate zucchini, bell pepper, egg, and lemon on top. Potatoes go on the side, with a little sauce on them as well.