Dukkah Crusted Beef Fillet with Butternut Mash and Broccolini

https://foodloversmarket.co.za/recipes/dukkah-crusted-fillet/

Have you tried dukkah yet? You may just fall in love. Often found on menus at restaurants, or in a ready-made spice mix from stores…Dukkah is a game-changer in the kitchen. So if you have not tried it, or you love it, it’s time to make your own dukkah. Dukkah is made with basic ingredients, including nuts, sesame seeds, coriander, and cumin. Dukkah livens up the most basic appetizer (or meal) around, like bread & olive oil, or simple eggs on toast and so much more! In this recipe, we have a homemade dukkah recipe which was used to crust a tender beef fillet, paired with a smooth butternut mash and fresh broccoli, mint, and almond salad.

You can make the dukkah in bulk and store it in an airtight glass jar to use in the future. There are as many recipes for dukkah as there are Egyptian cooks. The idea behind it is to use up what nuts and seeds you have on hand, so get creative!

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Serves

4

Prep Time

20 minutes

Cooking Time

30 minutes

Ingredients

For the Dukkah Crusted Beef Fillet

  • 10 ml (2 tsp) ground coriander
  • 5 ml (1 tsp) ground fennel
  • 5 ml (1 tsp) cumin
  • 2.5 ml (½ tsp) pepper
  • 2.5 ml (½ tsp) salt
  • 30 ml (2 Tbsp) sesame seeds
  • 125 ml (½ cup) almonds
  • 125 ml (½ cup) pecan nuts
  • 800 g Food Lover’s Market Beef Fillet
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

For the Butternut Mash

  • 1 large butternut, peeled and steamed
  • 15 ml (1 Tbsp) butter (*optional, if dairy-free then leave out.)
  • Pinch of cinnamon *optional
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

For the Broccolini

  • 300 g broccolini, blanched (*tenderstem broccoli)
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 80 ml (1/3 cup) almonds, chopped and toasted
  • Fresh mint, to taste
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

For the Dukkah Crusted Beef Fillet

  1. Lightly toast the nuts and seeds on a dry pan or in the oven. Allow to cool. Place all the spices, salt and pepper, sesame seeds, almonds and pecans in a food processor and grind until coarse crumbs are formed.
  2. Cut the beef fillet into portions, season with salt and black pepper and roll the sides into the dukkah, heat a large frying pan with a dash of olive oil on a high heat. Cook the fillet on all sides until cooked to your liking.
  3. Set aside to rest before serving.

    4. For the Butternut Mash

    1. Place the steamed butternut in a bowl, mash with a fork and add the butter, cinnamon and seasoning to taste.

      2. For the Broccolini

      1. Season the blanched broccolini with the lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper. Finish with fresh torn mint and toasted almonds.

Notes

One of the best things about making dukkah at home is that you can experiment with different combinations. A dukkah recipe can be customized to suit your taste buds. Dukkah recipes can differ, this is our homemade version. All the ingredients can be bought at a Food Lover’s Market store, but if you are home and looking for some substitutes to suit what you have or your taste, or allergies, see below alternatives:

  • Nuts – You can substitute the nuts for another nut. You could use Hazelnuts, peanuts (more Ethiopian – a.k.a Tsire),  walnuts, or pistachios. (Note: the taste will differ)
  • Seeds – Sesame seeds are one of the main ingredients in Dukkah, but if you need a substitute, you could try sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds (although the taste will differ).
  • Spices – You can add your own flavours to the mix. Cumin is a must for dukkah, but you can add chilli, paprika or some herb mixes into the blend.

Experiment in the kitchen and create your edition of Dukkah. 

Tips for making perfect dukkah

  1. Buy whole nuts and spices, grinding them yourself in a mortar and pestle or blender. (*You can buy them in a pack or per 100g at Food Lover’s Market stores.)
  2. Dukkah can be easily made ahead of time and stored until you’re ready to get cooking.
  3. Toast the fresh nuts and whole spices before you grind them. Once toasted, they release aromatic oils that fill the kitchen with mouth-watering smells. It only takes a few minutes to pan fry the spices so be careful not to overcook them.

What else can I use dukkah for?

Yes, this is a fillet-crusted dukkah but as we mentioned, dukkah is extremely versatile and can make a simple dish, amazing! Here are some other great ways to use Dukkah:

  • Sprinkle it on top of salads or in salad dressings
  • Sprinkle it on top of eggs or avo on toast.
  • Add it to a flatbread or focaccia
  • Spice up a piece of fish, or crust a piece of fresh fish in Dukkah
  • Sprinkle it into a dip, like hummus or guacamole.
  • Chicken, Pork, Lamb or Vegetables – dukkah goes with any protein you desire!
  • Mix it into a chickpea mayo, tuna mayo, or chicken mayo sandwich
  • Add it to your burgers

The list goes on, so be sure you have a jar fill in your pantry, always.

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