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Mafroum
Meat-stuffed potatoes in tomato
Mafroum (מפרום): Libyan-Jewish meat-stuffed potato sandwiches fried and braised in tomato
Mafroum came to Israel with the Jews of Tripoli, many of whom settled in Netanya, Bat Yam and the moshavim of the south, and it is still the dish that announces a Libyan Friday night: slices of potato are cut almost in two, stuffed with spiced beef, dipped in flour and egg, fried golden and then simmered in a red, paprika-rich tomato sauce until soft. The result is half sandwich, half stew, eaten with bread to wipe up the sauce or with couscous. Many cooks let the potatoes collapse; cut them at least 1.5 cm thick so they hold their shape. Chef's tip: a pinch of caraway and plenty of sweet paprika in the sauce is what makes it taste Libyan rather than simply tomatoey.
- Total time
- 120 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the potatoes
- 5 large floury potatoespeeled
- 1 ⅛ lb minced beef
- 1 oniongrated
- ½ oz parsleychopped
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground allspice
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 ⅞ oz plain flourfor dipping
- 3 eggsbeaten
- 1 cup vegetable oilfor frying
For the sauce
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 garlic clovescrushed
- 4 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
- ½ tsp ground caraway
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 ½ cups water
- 1 tsp salt
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Cut 5 large floury potatoes into 1.5 cm slices. Cut each slice through the middle, leaving one edge attached, to make a pocket like a book.
10 minStep 2: Mix 1 ⅛ lb minced beef, 1 onion, ½ oz parsley, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp ground allspice, 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper. Fill each potato pocket with a thin layer of meat, pressing it in and smoothing the edges.
15 minStep 3: Dip each stuffed slice in 2 ⅞ oz plain flour, then in 3 eggs. Heat 1 cup vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat and fry the slices for 3 minutes a side until golden. Drain on kitchen paper.
20 minStep 4: In a wide pot, heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil over a medium heat and fry 4 garlic cloves for 1 minute. Stir in 4 tbsp tomato paste, 2 tsp sweet paprika, ½ tsp hot paprika or chilli powder and ½ tsp ground caraway and fry for 2 minutes until it darkens.
3 minStep 6: Cover and simmer gently for 40 minutes, then uncover for 10 minutes, shaking the pot now and then, until the potatoes are tender, the meat cooked through (160°F) and the sauce thick and red.
50 minStep 7: Rest for 10 minutes and serve with bread or couscous.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 520 kcal
- Protein
- 25 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 29 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mafroum take?
- About 120 minutes in total: 50 minutes to prepare and 70 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of large floury potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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