{"id":107644,"date":"2025-06-16T14:29:05","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T18:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freshdirect.com\/blog\/?p=107644"},"modified":"2026-04-15T12:49:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T16:49:05","slug":"samkeh-harra-fish-tahini-recipe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freshdirect.com\/blog\/samkeh-harra-fish-tahini-recipe\/","title":{"rendered":"Samkeh Harra\u2014Whole Fish with Tahini Recipe"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Recipe: Samkeh Harra<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Whole Fish with Harissa & Tahini<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Recipe by Edy Massih<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Samkeh Harra means \u201cspicy fish\u201d and this one is a showstopper<\/em>. Branzino is stuffed with lemon slices, drenched in a spicy, zesty tahini sauce, and topped with a crunchy fried nut mix.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop seafood<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/picture>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

What You\u2019ll Need:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

For the fish:<\/span><\/p>

2 whole branzino<\/a> or 6 branzino fillets<\/a>, about 2 lb total
Kosher salt
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
Chopped fresh parsley, for serving<\/p>

For the sauce:<\/span>
<\/strong>2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
3 scallions, thinly sliced (about \u00bd cup)
4 garlic cloves, grated
2 tablespoons harissa paste<\/a>
1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper<\/a>
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 bunch fresh cilantro, including stems, chopped (about 2 cups)
1 cup tahini
\u00be cup fresh lemon juice<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

What To Do:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Make the fish:<\/span> Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.<\/p>

Pat the fish all over with paper towels to thoroughly dry. Season with a few large pinches of salt to coat the inside flesh and outer skin. Drizzle inside and out with olive oil and use clean hands to rub it all in. Stuff with the lemon slices.<\/p>

Arrange the fish on the prepared baking sheet and roast in the oven until the flesh is opaque, 18\u201320 minutes (for fillets, roast 8\u201310 minutes.)<\/p>

Make the sauce:<\/span> Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the onion and saut\u00e8 for about 5 minutes, until translucent but not taking on any color. Stir in the scallions and garlic and saut\u00e8 until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the harissa paste, Aleppo pepper, and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Stir until the harissa paste is a deep red and completely mixed into the aromatics. Add the cilantro and \u00bc cup water to thin the sauce. Stir until the cilantro is wilted. Turn the heat off and remove the mixture to a small bowl.<\/p>

In the same saucepan, add the tahini, lemon juice, remaining 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1 cup cold water. Whisk together until completely combined. Set over low heat and let the tahini sauce slowly simmer, stirring, until thickened, about 10 minutes (this is an emulsion, so the constant motion keeps the fat from separating and the tahini from scorching. Once the sauce thickens, whisk in the onion mixture.<\/p>

When the fish is ready, take it out of the oven and rest it on the baking sheet for 4 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, spoon the sauce over the top, and garnish with the nuts and parsley. Serve immediately.<\/p>

Serves 4\u20136.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

ABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Edy Massih<\/span> is a chef, a caterer, and the owner of Edy\u2019s Grocer in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Born in Anfeh, Lebanon, Edy moved to the US at the age of ten. In 2016, he graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and started a successful catering business, which soon became well known for its signature Brown Paper Boards. <\/span><\/p>

In August 2020, Edy opened his first storefront, Edy\u2019s Grocer, quickly becoming a neighborhood staple and gathering place serving great food and hosting various pop-ups, cookbook clubs, and dinner parties. His first cookbook, Keep It Zesty: A Celebration of Lebanese Flavors & Culture from Edy’s Grocer<\/em> came out in May 2024. <\/span><\/p>

Edy hopes to inspire others with his modern twist on the Lebanese flavors that captivated him as a child.<\/span><\/p>

WHERE TO FIND EDY<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Instagram<\/a><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Website<\/a><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Substack<\/a><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t



<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"FreshDirect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Samkeh harra is a Lebanese recipe of whole fish in a spicy tahini sauce with crunchy toppings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":69275,"featured_media":107646,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2732],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-recipes"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freshdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freshdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freshdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freshdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/69275"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freshdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107644"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.freshdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107663,"href":"https:\/\/www.freshdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107644\/revisions\/107663"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freshdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freshdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freshdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freshdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}