Here There and Everywhere

Expat wanderer

Tuna Tunisienne

I didn’t dare publish this photo before the day’s fast had ended. Doesn’t it look just yummy?

00tunafish.jpg

We all know what tuna salad is all about, right? A can of tuna, maybe some pickle, and some mayo, slosh it on the bread and you’re done? If you’re getting fancy, you can grill it?

When I moved to Tunisia, I learned a whole new way to eat tuna – I still add the sweet pickle, but now, I also add a LOT of parsley, a little lemon juice, some finely chopped onion, coarse pepper and salt, and then, just a little mayo.

It has a fresh flavor. You can taste all the individual tastes, but together they are magnificent. If you have any capers, you can throw them in, too. C’est magnifique!

brik2.jpg

This is how the Tunisians fix their tunafish, in a very common appetizer dish called brik (breek), probably distantly related to the Turkish borek. Sometimes made with just egg, sometimes with tuna and egg, it was the inspiration for my own tuna salad sandwich.

I can actually make brik, but there is no substitute for fresh Tunisian brik, made in Tunisia, with the special very thin brik skins that fry up thin and crisp in the best Tunisian olive oil. The photo is from PromoTunisia.

September 21, 2007 - Posted by | Africa, Cooking, Cross Cultural, ExPat Life, Recipes, Tunisia

10 Comments »

  1. They both look so delicious (especially the tuna salad) and I am feeling peckish again even though I have only just eaten my futoor!

    Ms.Baker's avatar Comment by Ms.Baker | September 21, 2007 | Reply

  2. I’m honored by your visit, Ms. B. Oh! The foods you get to eat during Ramadan! I imagine a little tuna every now and then is a nice change from all the sweets and starches. And I would love to know how to make machboos. Where are you blogging now?

    intlxpatr's avatar Comment by intlxpatr | September 22, 2007 | Reply

  3. Wow, I am going to try these tomorrow! Please keep up posting more delicious treats!

    Margot in Marrakesh, Morocco
    margotmystic.wordpress.com

    margotmarrakesh's avatar Comment by margotmarrakesh | September 24, 2007 | Reply

  4. […] pancake you can get during Ramadan is very close, I think, to the brik skin that you use for the Tuna Tunisienne which, hmmmmmm, could also be made with just about any leftover […]

    Unknown's avatar Pingback by Ramadan Futoor « Here There and Everywhere | September 25, 2007 | Reply

  5. Thanks, Margot – do they have brik in Marrakesh?

    intlxpatr's avatar Comment by intlxpatr | September 25, 2007 | Reply

  6. MMmm Yummy

    jewaira's avatar Comment by jewaira | September 25, 2007 | Reply

  7. C’mon over, Jewaira, and you bring the brik skins/pancakes, and I will make up the tuna and egg and we’ll have briks! πŸ˜‰

    intlxpatr's avatar Comment by intlxpatr | September 25, 2007 | Reply

  8. Don’t think this is strange, but I am going to Kuwait for 6 weeks later this month for work, and tuna is my main source of protein intake. Is a easily available in grocery stores and for how much?

    Sorry for silly question?

    REgards

    Tk's avatar Comment by Tk | May 27, 2008 | Reply

  9. You are SO in luck, Tk, as there are lots of supermarkets here, and the local co-ops, and tuna – in water and in oil – is plentiful here. Many many kinds of seafood, many many great vegetarian dishes. You are in for a thrill.

    intlxpatr's avatar Comment by intlxpatr | May 27, 2008 | Reply

  10. Ooops. How much. It’s expensive, like $1.20 a can – but we just pay it and say “at least it is available.”

    intlxpatr's avatar Comment by intlxpatr | May 27, 2008 | Reply


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