Oven-Baked Shaari Fish

Emirati60 minServes 4

Shaari is a familiar Gulf fish in the UAE with firm white flesh that suits grilling, frying and baking. Stuffing with onion and fresh coriander, called hashwa in Emirati homes, is a familiar way to flavour fish.

Ingredients for Oven-Baked Shaari Fish

• 1whole shaari (spangled emperor) fish, about 1 to 1.2 kg, cleaned and scored
• 2onions, sliced
• 4 clovesgarlic, crushed
• 1green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 bunchfresh coriander, chopped
• 2tomatoes, sliced
• 1 tspturmeric
• 1 tspground cumin
• 1 tspbezar
• ¼ cupolive or vegetable oil
• 1Juice of lemon and salt

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Rinse and dry the fish and make 3 deep slashes on each side.
2. Mix half the onion with the garlic, bell pepper, coriander, turmeric, cumin, bezar, salt, 3 tbsp of the oil and the lemon juice to make the stuffing (hashwa).
3. Fill the belly and slashes with the stuffing and rub the outside with the remaining oil and salt.
4. Spread the remaining onion and the tomato slices in a tray, place the fish on top and cover with foil.
5. Bake covered for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake 10 to 15 minutes more until lightly browned and cooked through.
6. Serve with white rice or bread and lemon slices.

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