Iraq

 Welcome to Iraq!  According to Google, the population of Iraq is 40,222,493 people and the capital is Baghdad.  This country is not on my top 10 list of countries to visit, but it has always fascinated me.  Then, when I saw what the national dish was, I was shocked.  How could their national dish involve fish?!  It seemed so strange that a country that is very destert-y had fish as their national dish.  The dish is called...

 

 

Masgouf!

It's fish covered in tomato sauce, then put on the barbecue.  What?!  I also made a Sumac salad to go with it.  Here's what I did:

MASGOUF

1 lb Rockfish fillets

2 tsp Salt, divided

2 tsp Curry Powder, divided

2 Small Onions

4 Garlic Cloves, minced

Avocado Oil

2 Medium Tomatoes

3/4 C Dried Parsley (the recipe said to use fresh; I didn't have fresh)

3 oz Tomato Paste

2 tbsp Vinegar

Lemon juice from 1 large lemon

1/2 C Water

1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper

1. Mix 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp curry powder, and rub on fish fillets.  Set aside.
2. Dice 1 onion and the garlic, and saute until translucent.  
3. Dice 1 tomato and add to the onions and garlic.
4. Add the parsley, tomato paste, vinegar, lemon juice, water, and cayenne pepper, and let simmer until it forms a thick sauce/paste.
   
5. Put the fillets on a tin foil tray on the BBQ, and top with the sauce.
6. Add slices from the other onion and tomato to the top, and grill for about 10 minutes, until fish is cooked.
7. Remove from BBQ and enjoy!

(Source: Masgouf)

 

SUMAC SALAD

1 Cucumber, cut into half-moons

1 large Tomato, cut into salad-sized pieces

1/4 Onion, sliced

1 tbsp Sumac powder

Avocado Oil, to taste

Salt and Pepper, to taste

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl and chill until ready to eat.
2. Enjoy!

(Source: Sumac Salad) 

The verdict?  This was delicious.  We really enjoyed the fish.  Both Handsome Husband and I thought the sauce overpowered the fish, so next time we make this (and there will be a next time!) we will add more fish. The sauce had great flavor, and the salad really complimented the fish.  You almost needed the salad to help balance the powerful taste of the fish.  But overall, it was very good.  The original recipe suggested to serve with rice, which would be good too.

ME

Taste of Masgouf (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 9

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 3

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 9

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Masgouf (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 9

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 4

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor):8

 

ME

Taste of Sumac Salad (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 6

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 3

HANDSOME HUSBAND

Taste of Sumac Salad (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 7

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 0

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5 

Another wonderful meal; another country down.  Thanks for joining us!  Next time, we will be "traveling" to Ethiopia - hope you join us!