Brik a l'Oeuf

Ingredients

• 4 sheets malsouka or brik pastry, or 8 sheets filo
• 4 small eggs
• 1 x 145g tin tuna in olive oil, drained and flaked
• 1 medium potato (about 180g), boiled and mashed
• 1 small onion, very finely chopped
• 2 tbsp capers, rinsed and chopped
• 1 small bunch flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
• 1 tsp harissa
• 1/2 tsp ground caraway
• 50g grated cheese or crumbled feta (optional)
• 700ml sunflower oil, for frying
• Salt and black pepper
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Before you cook

• Boil the potato until tender, then mash it with 1 tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper and leave it to cool.
• Chop the onion, capers and parsley finely.
• Flake the tuna and mix it with the mashed potato, onion, capers, parsley, harissa, caraway and the cheese if using. Season firmly.
• Crack each egg into its own small cup so it is ready to tip in fast.
• Line a tray with kitchen paper.

Steps

1. Pour the oil into a wide frying pan to a depth of 2cm and heat it to 180C. A scrap of pastry should sizzle and colour in about 20 seconds.
2. Lay one sheet of pastry on the work surface. If using filo, stack two sheets and brush between them with oil.
3. Spoon a quarter of the tuna mixture onto one half of the sheet and spread it out, then build the mixture into a low wall around a hollow in the centre.
4. Tip one egg into the hollow and season it with a pinch of salt.
5. Fold the empty half of the pastry over the filling to make a half moon or a triangle, and press the edges together firmly with your fingertips.
6. Lift the brik carefully on your open hand and slide it into the hot oil away from you.
7. Fry for about 60 seconds, spooning hot oil over the top, until the underside is golden.
8. Turn the brik once with a slotted spoon and fry the second side for 45 to 60 seconds. Total time in the oil should stay under 2 minutes so the yolk stays soft.
9. Lift it onto the paper-lined tray to drain and fry the remaining briks one at a time.
10. Serve immediately with lemon wedges, and tell everyone to bite a corner first and drink the yolk.