7 Delightful Tunisian foods & dishes you need to try – Delicious bits of Tunisian cuisine

Its spiciness is the main characteristic. Like other Mediterranean dishes, Tunisian dishes are saturated with olive oil and spices. The cuisine was influenced by French, Italians, Turkish, Spanish, Arabic and Vandals. The cooking styles began to form when the people were nomads, and it is important to notice that they were very limited in their cooking utensils as they had to make do with what pots and pans they could carry around with them. The main ingredients of any Tunisian dish are tomatoes, olive oil and meat. Tourists staying at a place like *The Residence Tunis *will be able to sample the best bits of the local cuisine.

You cannot claim to have sampled Tunisian cuisine if you haven't tried couscous. This is the country's national dish, and it is a staple in other North African countries. This Berbers dish has become a favourite all over the world now. Couscous is made of semolina wheat, and it is usually served with a meat like chicken, lamb or beef. The dish is mixed in with plenty of peppers and vegetables.

Served for breakfast, Ojja is made of egg and tomatoes. This is a popular dish all over Africa, but it is thought to have been originated in Yemen. When translated to Arabic, the name has the meaning mixture. The eggs are poached, and the tomato sauce has chilli peppers and garlic mixed in.

This is a pastry with a filling of eggs. Brik comes from the Ottoman era. The wrapping is very thin, and it is fried with eggs inside. The egg variety is the Tunisian version, but you can also find fillings of capers, cheese, anchovies and tuna. Brik is a breakfast dish, but it can be eaten for lunch and dinner as well.

People think this is a French dish, but it is not. Merguez became popular in France when Tunisia was colonized by the French, and the dish is originally a Tunisian dish. This is a very spicy sauce made of beef or mutton, and it is served with a sandwich or with Ojja. The red colour of the sauce is the result of the Harissa spice, and the sausages are mixed with garlic, fennel, sumac and cumin.

Though you can find this dish at any time at any hotel Tunis, Chorba is a Tunisian Ramadan special. The typical ingredients of the dish are beef or lamb, but you can also find the fish varieties. This is a soup dish with a base made of tomatoes. The other ingredients include Harissa and Bulgar wheat. Chorba is now a Tunisian staple, but it was originated in Morocco.

While the main part of any tagine dish found in Tunisia is couscous, Poulet Meshi does not adhere to that rule. The mouthwatering roast chicken is served with chickpeas and onions; it is also flavoured with lemon juice.

Tea is a very popular beverage in Tunisia. Tunisians make their tea on a stove. The addition of mint fights the bitterness of the tea, so does the copious amount of sugar they add. There can be green tea or red tea; both are traditional and equally loved by Tunisians. The Tunisian evening tea is made distinct by the inclusion of nuts like peanuts, almonds and pine nuts.