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EveryMasala

Pastes and wet masalas

Chermoula

A North African marinade of coriander, parsley, garlic, lemon, cumin and paprika, mostly for fish.

Chermoula is a herb and spice paste of the Maghreb used to marinate fish and seafood, and also chicken and vegetables. It is bright, green or orange, and sharp with lemon.

What goes in

Fresh coriander: 22%22%Parsley: 17%17%Garlic: 17%17%Cumin: 11%11%Paprika: 11%11%Lemon: 11%11%Olive oil: 11%11%18parts

Parts by volume of the whole spice. The ring shows each part's share.

Made step by step

Each drawing shows the operation for that step. Ratios and timings differ from house to house; this is one traditional-style way.

  1. Step 1: Dry Wash and dry the herbs and chop them roughly.
  2. Step 2: Toast Toast the cumin and grind it.
  3. Step 3: Pound Pound the garlic with salt to a paste.
  4. Step 4: Pound Add the herbs and pound or blend.
  5. Step 5: Blend Stir in cumin, paprika, lemon juice and olive oil.
  6. Step 6: Rest Coat the fish and rest it in the refrigerator for an hour.
  7. Step 7: Store Keep leftover paste for a couple of days.
  8. Fresh coriander: 22%22%Parsley: 17%17%Garlic: 17%17%Cumin: 11%11%Paprika: 11%11%Lemon: 11%11%Olive oil: 11%11%
    Finished Chermoula, by share.

Two styles

Moroccan versions often have fresh coriander, parsley, garlic, cumin, paprika, lemon and olive oil. Tunisian versions can use dried chilli and fewer herbs. Saffron or preserved lemon are added in places.

Use

Fish is coated and left to rest before frying, grilling or baking. It is also stirred into couscous and spread on roast vegetables.

Where it is used

Grilled fishPrawnsRoast vegetablesChicken

The spices in it

CuminEarthy.PaprikaColour.CorianderFresh herb.

More on EveryMasala

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Sources and further reading

About this page

Original text and drawings by the EveryMasala desk, written with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. The shares are an illustrative, traditional-style ratio, not a standard: every family and maker blends differently. If we have something wrong, tell us.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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