Galilee Green Spicy Tilapia with Fava Beans

I’m more creative in the kitchen in Israel. Especially when it comes to cooking for Shabbat.

There are so many cultures to glean from here. The Mediterranean cuisine is so good for you with its fresh fruit, vegetable, fish and of course olive oil. The Moroccan Jewish dishes are bold and spicy. The Ethiopian community serves hearty meat stews using all types of beans.

Cooking has always been a big part of my life. I love my foods fresh, colorful and cutting edge. As long as the recipe is easy to prepare and has the healthiest ingredients I’m excited by it. So when I discovered the burlap bags of dried red peppers in the markets in Israel, I became curious.

I was told that these dried peppers are for the best home cooks in Israel. They can be bought in the shuk (open air market) or in nut and spice shops through the country. One type is dried sweet pepper and the other is dried hot pepper for the brave. It is these peppers that are the base flavor for our Galilee Green Spicy Tilapia with Fava Beans.

I sought out the advice of my friend Malka and she happily shared some Moroccan kitchen secrets she learned from her mother.

This dish is the perfect Friday night fish starter. And don’t worry if you can’t find dried red peppers… chili peppers or hot banana peppers will work as well. Just watch the heat!

Ingredients:

• 4 fillets of Tilapia
• ½ bag of frozen Fava beans
• 6 gloves of garlic
• 1 dried hot red pepper
• 1 cup of fresh cilantro
  Paste:
• 2 tablespoons of Galilee Green Olive Oil
• 3 teaspoons of sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon of hot paprika
• 1-2 cups of water

Directions:

• Place fish, fava beans, garlic, dried peppers in a deep frying pan
• Make a paste from the oil and 2 different paprikas
• “Shmear” (that’s Yiddish for “smear”) or spread ½ the paste on the fish
• Place cilantro on top
• Add water making sure that the fish is not immersed in water.
• Add remaining paste to water
• Cook fish on medium heat for 1 – 1 ½ hours until the fava beans are done and sauce has thickened

The results are rich and bold and impressive.
ENJOY!!