Samkeh Harrah (also hot fish, samkeh 7arra, samki 7arra, arabic سمكة حرة, سمكة حرة طرابلسية) is a delicious Lebanese dish originating in the coastal city of Tripoli. It is known as a very healthy and energetic dish. Many famous small restaurants in the Mina (port) of Tripoli still serve this meal in Lebanese (Pita) bread.

Ingredients

• 1 kg fried or grilled fish flaked
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
• ½ cup finely chopped coriander
• ½ cup ground pine nuts, almonds, and pistachio nuts
• 3 cups sesame paste sauce (Taratour)
• 1 tbls dried coriander
• a dash of ground paprika
• ½ tspn ground chili (red pepper)
• ½ tspn ground cumin
• ½ cup olive oil
• ½ tspn salt

Procedure

1. Fry in hot oil onion, bell pepper, and coriander until soft.
Stir in spices, salt and ground nuts.
2. Pour sesame paste sauce over the mixture, stir constantly on medium heat until the oil’s bubbles appear and the mixture thickens.
3. Pour mixture in serving platter. Garnish with fish flakes, lemon wedges, fried pine nuts and some chopped parsley.