afoona
Masgouf - Iraqi-Style Grilled Butterflied Fish
fish

Masgouf - Iraqi-Style Grilled Butterflied Fish

In Baghdad, carp is grilled split open like a book in front of a wood fire, and Iraqi Jews brought masgouf with them to Israel. In the home version it is grilled over charcoal or in the oven, with turmeric and lemon, until the edges char and the flesh flakes easily.

⏱ 1 hr🍽 4 servings 🌍 Middle Eastern👩‍🍳 Afoona
🥩 Meat🌾 Gluten-free

👨‍🍳 Method

  1. 1
    Rinse the fish, now opened, and pat dry well.
    Paper towels
  2. 2
    Sprinkle the coarse salt on both sides and leave half an hour in the fridge. The salt draws out a little liquid and firms the flesh.
    Refrigerator
  3. 3
    In a bowl, mix the olive oil, tomato paste, paprika, turmeric, black pepper and juice of one lemon.
    Bowl
  4. 4
    Wipe off the excess salt and spread the paste over the flesh side in a thin layer.
  5. 5
    Light a charcoal grill to medium-high heat.
    Charcoal grill
  6. 6
    Lay the fish in a double grill basket, the meat side facing the coals, and grill 10–12 minutes, until it is well charred.
    Charcoal grill
  7. 7
    Turn carefully and grill another 15–20 minutes, with the lid closed, brushing the rest of the paste over the flesh now and then.
    Charcoal grill
  8. 8
    Check near the backbone: when the flesh is completely white and flakes easily with a fork, the fish is done.
  9. 9
    Serve with the remaining lemon halves, the tomato slices, onion and amba alongside pitas.
483calories
46 gprotein
9 gcarbs
28 gfat
● protein 39%● carbs 7%● fat 53%

Per serving (415 g), of 4 servings

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⚖ About the ingredients

🔧 Tools needed (3)

  • Refrigerator · Also works: Freezer (Chills faster; don't let it freeze) · Ice bath (Ice bath)
  • Bowl · Also works: Pot (None)
  • Charcoal grill · 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Gas grill (No smoky flavor) · Grill pan (Indoors, no smoke) · Broiler (Broiler)

🧻 Consumables: Paper towels

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🧩 Built from…

Masgouf

🧩 Another 2 recipes based on Masgouf

Masgouf — Iraqi Grilled FishMasgouf - Grilled Iraqi Carp

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