Grilled whole snapper with burghul salad (samak mechoui bi salatat burghul)

Ingredients

• 3 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp sweet paprika
• 2 tbsp white vinegar
• 80 ml (⅓ cup) extra virgin olive oil
• 1.5 kg snapper, cleaned, flesh scored 3 times on each side
• 240 g (1½ cups) coarse burghul (see Note)
• 2 bunches rocket, stems trimmed, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 2 small lemons, juiced
• 2 tsp sumac (see Note)

Marinating time 30 minutes

Instructions

Using a mortar and pestle, pound garlic with 1 tsp salt to a paste. Add cumin and paprika, and pound until just combined. Stir in vinegar and 2 tbs oil.

Rub spice mixture over snapper and inside cavity. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to marinate.

Meanwhile, place burghul in a heatproof bowl and pour in enough boiling water to cover by 1 cm. Cover and stand for 20 minutes or until burghul is tender and liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside for 10 minutes to cool.

Preheat barbecue to medium heat. Cook fish, with lid closed, for 10 minutes each side or until browned and cooked through.

Meanwhile, add the rocket, tomatoes, onion, parsley, lemon juice, sumac and remaining 2 tbsp oil to burghul. Season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine. Serve fish with salad.

Notes

• Coarse burghul, available from select Middle Eastern food shops, has a larger grain than regular burghul (also known as bulgar to some Lebanese). Each grain is about half the size of a rice grain.

• Sumac, from supermarkets, is a tangy reddish-brown Middle Eastern spice often used in marinades, salads and dressings.

Photography Tom Donald (Location) & Brett Stevens (Food)