One of the most common dishes to cook in Tunisia is Tunisian Pasta. If you ever visit Tunisia make sure to visit some local restaurants that can offer a great authentic pasta, especially if you go downtown where the most famous traditional Pasta restaurants are located!
This pasta is one of the most important dishes that Tunisian mothers teach their daughters. It is a traditional dish that is made in almost every house in Tunisia.
I first learned this recipe when I was in seventh grade. My mom had to go visit my grandparents and I stayed with my dad. One of my favorite moments during that time was when my dad came home and found his dinner ready after a long day at work. I definitely loved being thanked for the work I had done. Though one thing I have to confess about this, is that I was never the one who turned the range on, as I was scared from using the lighter so I always asked my older brother to do that for me.
Today, I would like to share one of the recipes that I started my cooking journey with. It is one of the first and favorite recipes I learned and I hope it becomes a favorite for you too.
Tunisian Makrouna (aka Tunisian Pasta)
Course: Lunch, DinnerCuisine: TunisianDifficulty: Medium4
servings10
minutes45
minutesTunisian Pasta is one of the most famous dishes in Tunisia. The Tunisian sauce for pasta is different from the others. It is mostly based on canned tomatoes and spices. This pasta is considered one of the basic dishes to learn in the Tunisian cuisine.
Ingredients
6 garlic cloves
1 and 1/2 tsp ground coriander (Check notes)
1 tsp of Turmeric
1/3 cup of olive oil
4 tbsp tomato paste
1 can tomato sauce (optional)
1 teaspoon harissa (or paprika if harissa is not available)
3 bay leaves
1 lb of Chicken Thighs or drumsticks (Check notes)
4 tbsps of chickpeas (optional)
4 tbsp of sweet peas (optional)
3 cups of hot water
1 Pound of pasta of your choice
Directions
- In a small food processor add the garlic, coriander, salt, and tomato paste, and then grind them together. (This will allow the spices and the garlic to release the flavor in the tomato paste).
- In a large pot in medium heat, add the olive oil, wait for a minute or two for the oil to heat a little bit but not too much. Then, add the garlic and spices mix. Mix it well then add the chickpeas, peas, chicken, and bay leaves. Mix it well for about 3 minutes so that the chicken gets marinated and the tomato paste looses its sourness.
- Add the tomato sauce and one cup of hot water. Let the sauce heat for about 4 minutes and then add the rest of the water.
- Cook for about 40 minutes or till the chicken is cooked and the sauce has thickened a bit.
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions, then add as much sauce as you desire. Mix it well. Then, add the rest of the sauce and top it with the chicken and some chickpeas and peas.
Notes
- If you have Tunisian Bzar (a Tunisian spice) you can use that instead of the ground coriander.
- You can replace chicken with any other type of meat desired (ex: shrimp, beef, meatballs, …). If shrimp was used, you need about 1 bag of small shrimp shell and tail removed.
- If you don’t have a small food processor, you can mince the garlic and then mix it with the rest of the ingredients.
- When mixing the pasta and the sauce, remember to remove the bay leaves.
- For a prettier and more delicious pasta you can add some fries and fried peppers on top.
More Pictures of Tunisian Pasta:
In Tunisia one of the most commonly used types of Pasta is the Ditalini pasta known there as “Fell”. As you can see in the picture above, Ditalini does work really well with this kind of sauce. The holes inside it gives a way for the peas and chickpeas to hide which makes it like a surprise while eating. Shells work wonderfully with this too, especially the large ones.
If you want to include this Macaroni in a family meal, you can add some side dishes such as salads, soups, and sautéed vegetables.
Checkout the picture below of one of my New Years meals where I made two types of salads (a grilled vegetables salad and a greens and cheese salad), sautéed shrimp and green beans, and topped my chicken pasta with some authentic Tunisian Kofta (Recipe Coming Soon).
More links to check out:
For more Tunisian recipes, check out my Ojja Recipe .
Check out more recipes at rimehskitchen.com.
Also, don’t forget to check out my Instagram @rimehs.world. There I share more food ideas every week. I would love it if you tag me whenever you try one of my recipes.
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