Samak Mashwi bil Foil — Print Recipe

Fresh fish fillets seasoned with chermoula-style Gulf spices, wrapped in foil with vegetables, and baked until tender and aromatic. This healthy Kuwaiti cooking method locks in all the moisture and flavor.

Ingredients

4 fish fillets (hamour or sea bass)
2 tomatoes, sliced
1 bell pepper, sliced
1 onion, sliced into rings
4 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of 2 lemons
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp turmeric
Salt and pepper
Fresh dill
1 green chili, sliced

Instructions

1 Mix olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, paprika, turmeric, salt, and pepper into a marinade. Coat fish fillets thoroughly.
2 Lay out four large sheets of aluminum foil. Place sliced onion rings and tomatoes as a bed on each sheet.
3 Place a marinated fish fillet on each vegetable bed. Top with bell pepper slices, green chili, and fresh dill.
4 Fold the foil over tightly to create sealed packets, ensuring no steam can escape during cooking.
5 Bake at 200C for 20-25 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily when tested with a fork.
6 Serve the packets unopened at the table so each diner can enjoy the aromatic steam when they open their own packet.

Did You Know?

Kuwaiti families love cooking fish in foil for beach barbecues, where the packets can be placed directly on hot coals.