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Fish, Maghreb and Middle East

Turkish fish pilaki with bread

Fish pilaki is a Turkish dish of cod simmered in olive oil with carrots, potatoes and tomatoes. This easy recipe serves 4, takes 55 minutes and costs €3.50 per serving. The key to getting it right is cooking the vegetables gently and letting the dish rest before serving it warm.

A fish pilaki, this Turkish dish simmered in olive oil with carrots, potatoes and tomatoes, best enjoyed warm with bread.

Turkish fish pilaki with bread
Total time
55 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.50
Calories per person
750 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Pilaki surprises you with how gentle it tastes. The fish stays tender sitting on a bed of soft vegetables, and the tomato sauce, mellowed with a touch of sugar, coats everything without covering up the cod. It's a Mediterranean dish eaten warm, almost at room temperature, with good bread for soaking up the sauce.

This recipe works just as well for a weeknight dinner as for a calmer Sunday meal. Kids tend to like it because the fish is soft and the vegetables are well cooked, with no bones to worry about if you use fillets. Mon Chou suggests it as a change from simply grilled fish.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Cod or hake fillets 700 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Carrots 3
  • Potatoes 400 g
  • Onions 2
  • Tomatoes 3
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Lemon 1
  • Flat leaf parsley 1 bunch

Pantry

  • Tomato pasteoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 6 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Bakery

  • Country bread 8 slices

Allergens Fish, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the sliced onions in olive oil over low heat, without letting them brown. 8 min

    Cook gently, the onions should turn translucent and sweet.

  2. Add the sliced carrots, diced potatoes, garlic, tomato paste, sugar and a glass of water, then cover. 20 min

    Sugar softens the acidity of the tomato, a pinch is enough.

  3. Add the diced tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the vegetables are almost tender. 10 min

    The vegetables should be just soft, not mushy.

  4. Lay the fish fillets on top of the vegetables, drizzle with a little oil and cook covered. 12 min

    Don't stir after placing the fish.

  5. Drizzle with lemon, sprinkle with parsley and serve warm with bread.

    A final drizzle of raw olive oil gives the dish its signature fruity finish.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick thick cod or hake fillets, they'll hold their shape better and won't fall apart among the vegetables.
  • Cut the potatoes into even cubes so they cook at the same rate as the carrots, without any hard bits left.
  • Taste the sauce before adding the fish, that's the right moment to adjust salt, sugar or acidity depending on your tomatoes.

The variations

  • Swap the cod for hake or monkfish, both hold up well to a gentle simmer.
  • For a vegetarian version, skip the fish and add chickpeas, turning the dish into a full vegetable stew.
  • For a quicker kids' version, cut the fish into small pieces before cooking, it cooks faster and is easier to eat.

What to serve it with

  • Crusty bread to soak up the sauce
  • Plain yogurt with a touch of lemon
  • Sparkling water with lemon

Storage

Pilaki keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container, and the flavor actually improves the next day. It doesn't freeze well since the fish and potatoes lose their texture. Reheat gently in a pan or on very low heat, without letting it boil.

Questions about this dish

Can you make fish pilaki ahead of time?

Yes, it's actually recommended. Make it the day before so the flavors blend better, then reheat it gently before serving warm.

What fish works if I don't have cod?

Hake, pollock or monkfish all work well. Choose a firm white fish that won't fall apart during cooking.

Why add sugar to the tomato sauce?

A small spoonful of sugar softens the natural acidity of the tomatoes and tomato paste. It's just a pinch, the dish doesn't turn out sweet.

Is fish pilaki good for kids?

Yes, it's a mild, gentle dish that kids usually accept easily. Cut the fish into pieces and check for bones before serving.

How long does it take to make a Turkish fish pilaki with bread?

Count 55 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a Turkish fish pilaki with bread?

About 750 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Turkish fish pilaki with bread cost?

About €3.50 per serving, or €14.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains fish, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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