Pan-fried lamb fillets with chermoula and herb cous cous

“I first came across chermoula at a food festival in the UK. Two lads had an old Citroen van and they were making fish chermoula - I’ve loved it ever since.” - James
Image credit: Tara Fisher

Ingredients

  • 4 x 175g lamb fillets
  • 50ml olive oil
  • 200g cous cous
  • 1 small mixed bunch coriander, mint and parsley
  • Juice of 2 lemons
  • 50ml olive oil
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the chermoula paste:
  • 2 red onions
  • 1 small bunch coriander
  • 1 x 3cm piece fresh root ginger
  • 100ml lemon juice
  • 100ml olive oil
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp turmeric

Method

First, make the chermoula paste. Roughly chop the onion, coriander and ginger and place in a small food processor with the other ingredients. Process to a paste. Cover the lamb with the paste and set aside.

Pour boiling water over the cous cous in a heatproof bowl until it is just covered, then cover with cling lm and set aside for a few minutes until the water is absorbed.

Meanwhile, chop the herbs. Stir them into the cous cous with the lemon juice and olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan, add the lamb and cook for 8 minutes, basting and turning frequently. Remove from the heat and allow to rest in a warm place for 5 minutes, then slice.

To serve, place a spoonful of cous cous in the middle of each plate, top with the lamb and drizzle the chermoula meat juices around it.

Ingredients

  • 4 x 175g lamb fillets
  • 50ml olive oil
  • 200g cous cous
  • 1 small mixed bunch coriander, mint and parsley
  • Juice of 2 lemons
  • 50ml olive oil
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the chermoula paste:
  • 2 red onions
  • 1 small bunch coriander
  • 1 x 3cm piece fresh root ginger
  • 100ml lemon juice
  • 100ml olive oil
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp turmeric

Method

First, make the chermoula paste. Roughly chop the onion, coriander and ginger and place in a small food processor with the other ingredients. Process to a paste. Cover the lamb with the paste and set aside.

Pour boiling water over the cous cous in a heatproof bowl until it is just covered, then cover with cling lm and set aside for a few minutes until the water is absorbed.

Meanwhile, chop the herbs. Stir them into the cous cous with the lemon juice and olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan, add the lamb and cook for 8 minutes, basting and turning frequently. Remove from the heat and allow to rest in a warm place for 5 minutes, then slice.

To serve, place a spoonful of cous cous in the middle of each plate, top with the lamb and drizzle the chermoula meat juices around it.

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Fast Cooking: Really Exciting Recipes in 20 Minutes

“This book is a collection of dishes that are inspired by my travels, Saturday Kitchen and everyday life. We’re all leading busy lives and these simple suppers, light meals and tasty mains are the kind of food I really cook at home” - James