Eden’s Middle Eastern Striped Bass

• 2 fillets of striped bass, skins removed
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tsp black mustard seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 3 big tomatoes, medium chop
• 1-2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 pinch of sugar
• 1 tsp red wine vinegar
• 2-3 tablespoons raw tahini
• Zastar olive oil – 2 tablespoons of olive oil mixed with 1 tablespoon of olive oil mixed with 1 tablespoon zaatar (if you cannot find zaatar, then just use 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds mixed with 1 tsp toasted cumin seeds crushed with a little olive oil)
• 1 large handful of fresh cilantro to garnish
• 3 garlic scapes, cut into ¼ inch pieces – if you cannot find then just leave out
• ½ lemon, juiced
• 1 fresh white fluffy bread (I love using a fresh white pullman loaf) tear it instead of cutting for a real rustic effect

1.  Heat up 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add in the mustard seeds and the cumin seeds. When the mustard seeds start to pop, add in the garlic, sautéing for a couple of seconds and then add in tomatoes. Season with salt and a pinch of sugar. Sauté for a couple of minutes and then add in the red wine vinegar. Do not simmer for too long, you want the sauce to be chunky. Check for seasoning and keep warm on a very low heat.

2.  In another pan, heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the garlic scapes and season with salt, tossing until golden. Remove from the heat and keep on the side until ready for garnish.

3.  In the same pan, heat up the remaining olive oil. Season the fish well with salt and pepper. Sear on one side until nice and golden and then sear on the other. When both sides are golden, place in the warm tomato sauce. Turn heat up to medium and cover with a lid, letting the fish finish cooking in the sauce, around 3-5 minutes. Remove the lid and drizzle all over with raw tahini and the zaatar olive oil. Scatter the garlic scapes all around and place a nice amount of cilantro on top. Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice and serve right away with the torn bread. The bread dipped into the sauce is delish! I would recommend serving with extra tahini on the side to drizzle on top of the tomato soaked bread. Enjoy!!!