Entree: United Arab Emirates – National Cuisine – جاشيد ➤ Jasheed (Slow-simmered spiced stew of dried baby fish in a tangy tomato sauce)

Serving Size: 4

Approximate Time

Prep 10 min

Cook 30 min

Total 40 min

Ingredients

- 12 oz (340 g) dried baby sardines or salted dried small fish, rinsed and roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) vegetable oil or ghee
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp (30 g) tomato paste
- 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp (5 g) ground cumin
- 1 tsp (2 g) ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp (2 g) ground turmeric
- 1/2 tsp (1.5 g) red chili powder or to taste
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) tamarind paste or 2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lemon juice for tang
- 1 tsp (5 g) brown sugar or to taste
- 1 tsp (5 g) salt or to taste
- 1/4 tsp (1 g) freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup (240 ml) water, plus more as needed
- 2 tbsp (8 g) chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
- Cooked basmati or plain rice for serving

Instructions

1. Rinse the dried baby fish under cold water to remove excess salt and pat dry. Roughly chop or break into pieces.
2. Heat the oil or ghee in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and sauté until softened and golden, about 8–10 minutes.
3. Add the minced garlic and sauté 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste and cook 2 minutes to reduce raw tomato flavor.
4. Add the crushed tomatoes, ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, and red chili powder. Cook, stirring, 3–4 minutes until spices bloom and sauce thickens slightly.
5. Stir in the chopped dried fish, tamarind paste (or lemon juice), brown sugar, salt, and black pepper. Add 1 cup (240 ml) water, bring to a gentle simmer.
6. Reduce heat to low, cover partially, and simmer 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add a little more water if the stew becomes too thick; flavors should concentrate without drying out.
7. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, sugar, or lemon/tamarind for balance. Remove from heat and stir in chopped cilantro.
8. Serve hot alongside steamed rice or flatbread, spooning generous portions of fish and sauce onto each plate.