ExploFood · Africa
What to eat in Tunisia
Five dishes to try in Tunisia, the most typical first. Three are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Tunisia
Couscous كسكسي
Steamed semolina topped with a spicy red stew of fish, lamb or chicken and vegetables.
How to have it: Often a Friday family dish; coastal towns serve it with fish, inland with lamb.
Brik بريك
Crisp fried pastry filled with egg, tuna, capers and parsley.
How to have it: Bite carefully so the runny yolk does not spill; a common starter, especially during Ramadan.
Lablabi لبلابي
Chickpea broth poured over torn bread with harissa, cumin, olive oil and a raw egg.
How to have it: A cheap working-class breakfast or winter meal at small lablabi shops; add tuna or an egg.
Shakshouka شكشوكة
Eggs poached in a peppery tomato and pepper sauce.
How to have it: Eaten for lunch or dinner in Tunisia, often with merguez added; scoop it up with bread.
Makroudh مقروض
Diamond-shaped semolina pastry filled with dates, fried and soaked in syrup.
How to have it: Kairouan is the home of makroudh; buy a box from pastry shops near the medina.
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Questions
What food is Tunisia famous for?
Couscous (steamed semolina topped with a spicy red stew of fish, lamb or chicken and vegetables) comes first on our list, followed by Brik, Lablabi, Shakshouka and Makroudh.
What is the national dish of Tunisia?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Tunisia is Couscous: steamed semolina topped with a spicy red stew of fish, lamb or chicken and vegetables. Often a Friday family dish; coastal towns serve it with fish, inland with lamb.
Which dishes in Tunisia are vegetarian?
Three of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Lablabi, Shakshouka and Makroudh. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Tunisia?
Brik (crisp fried pastry filled with egg, tuna, capers and parsley).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.