Tunisian Brik Recipes

TUNISIAN BRIK (ESSENTIAL MEDITERRANEAN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F Metl the butter in a small frying pan and cool the onion over low heat until soft but not brown, about 5 minutes.
• Combine the onion, tuna, capers, parsley and parmesan in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cut the filo pastry sheets in half widthways. Layer four of the half-sheets together, brushing each with melted butter. Keep the remaining pastry covered with a tamp towel.
• Spoon half the tuna mixture onto one end of the buttered pastry, leaving a border. Made a well in the center of the mixture and carefully break an egg into the well, being careful not to break it. Season with salt and pepper.
• Layer two more sheets of the filo together, brushing with melted butter, and place on top of the tuna and egg. Fold in the pastry sides, then roll into a firm parcel, keeping the egg intact.
• Place on a lightly greased baking tray and brush with melted butter. Repeat with the remaining pastry, filling and egg.
• Bake for 15 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• NOTE: the yolk is still soft after 15 minutes. If you like your eggs firmer, bake for a little longer.

TUNISIAN EGG BRIKS

Steps:

• Directions are given per brik.
• Place the phyllo sheet on a work surface. Phyllo is rectangular. Either cut it to make a square, or fold the phyllo so you work with a single layer sheet.
• Using only the top half of the phyllo sheet, spoon 1 tablespoonful of tuna onto the phyllo. Sprinkle 1/4 the amount of parmesan onto the tuna. (If using mashed potato, put 1/4 of the mashed potato onto the tuna and parmesan.) Dot 1 teaspoon of harissa around the mixture. Sprinkle on 1 tablespoon or less of parsley. Make sort of an open circle with the mixture.
• Now, crack open an egg, and drop it on this mixture in a way that the mixture won't let the egg white run out easily. The mixture should surround the egg.
• Fold the bottom half of the phyllo sheet over the top half. This will cover the whole mixture. Seal the edges with egg white as you make the fold. If you have excess pastry per brik, just fold the excess in towards the center of the brik; it will resemble an envelope.
• Slip this brik into hot oil. Fry 30 seconds on one side, or until the phyllo is a golden brown color. Turn it, and fry the other side, also 30 seconds, or until the color is golden brown.
• Continue with the other briks.
• Serve with lemon wedges to squeeze into every bite, salad and tomato.

LABLABI (TUNISIAN CHICKPEA SOUP)

Steps:

• Prepare the crispy chickpeas: Transfer chickpeas to a rimmed baking sheet lined with a clean dish towel or paper towels. Cover with another towel (or paper towels) on top, rubbing gently to dry. Remove top towel and let air-dry for at least 30 minutes and preferably 1 hour.
• As chickpeas dry, start preparing the soup: In a Dutch oven or heavy stockpot, combine soaked chickpeas, 5 cups water, 1 tablespoon olive oil, bay leaves and 1/2 teaspoon salt over high heat. Bring to a boil for 2 to 3 minutes, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook until chickpeas are tender, about 1 to 2 hours.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. While chickpeas are cooking, cut bread into thick slices, then tear slices into bite-size pieces. Place bread in one layer on large rimmed baking sheet and toast until crisp and light brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool on pan and set aside.
• Finish the crunchy chickpeas: Raise oven temperature to 425 degrees. Remove the towels from baking sheet with the chickpeas, and toss the chickpeas with 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and za'atar until well coated. Roast until golden and crispy, about 13 to 18 minutes, tossing halfway through. When chickpeas are still hot, sprinkle lightly more salt. Taste and add more salt or za'atar, or both, if you'd like.
• When the chickpeas for the soup are tender, discard bay leaves. Using a slotted spoon, transfer 2 cups of chickpeas, 1/2 cup of chickpea cooking liquid and 1/4 cup olive oil to a blender or food processor, and purée until smooth. (Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender to blitz half the chickpeas into a rough purée. Add the olive oil before puréeing. The broth won't be as silky as it would be puréed in a regular blender, but it will taste just as good.)
• In a large skillet over medium-high, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until golden, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon cumin and tomato paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute. Add a splash of the chickpea cooking liquid to the pan, and bring to a simmer to deglaze, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Turn off heat.
• Add chickpea purée and onion mixture to soup, along with harissa and lemon juice, and stir well. Add a little water if soup seems too thick, and more salt, if needed.
• To serve, divide toasted bread pieces among soup bowls, then ladle in soup. Garnish with lemon zest, parsley, olive oil, more cumin and some of the crispy chickpeas - you'll have leftovers. Serve hot, with more harissa on the side.

TUNISIAN BRIKS (BREK)

Steps:

• To prepare the filling:
• 1. In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a medium mixing bowl and cool.
• 2. Add the tuna, capers, cheese, and parsley to the onions. Season with salt and pepper to taste and stir to combine. Set aside.
• To assemble:
• 1. In a wide, high-sided skillet over medium-high heat, add enough oil to come up the sides of the pan about 1 1/2 inches. Heat the oil to 350°F for frying.
• 2. Quickly spread the egg roll wrappers out on a work surface and brush the edges with the egg white. Place a rounded spoonful of filling (2 to 3 tablespoons) just off center on each wrapper. Using a spoon, press a well into the center of the filling. Break an egg over each portion of filling, catching it in the well.
• 3. Carefully fold each egg roll over to form a triangle, keeping the egg inside its well. Press the edges together to seal closed. For a sturdier pocket, fold each rim over itself by about a 1/2 inch and press to seal.
• 4. Working in batches, gently slide the briks into the hot oil. Spoon hot oil over any dough that may not be submerged. Fry, turning gently as needed, until the briks are golden brown and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain the cooked briks on a cooling rack set over a sheet pan while the others finish cooking. Serve warm with wedges of lemon.

TUNISIAN BRIK

Steps:

• Place potato in salted water to cover, bring to a boil and cook until tender. Drain, and mash with olive oil.
• Heat 2 cups of grapeseed or canola oil in deep 10-inch skillet to 350 degrees.
• Place spring-roll wrapper on saucer. Place 3 tablespoons of mashed potatoes in middle, flattening the center to make a well. Dab it with 1/4 teaspoon harissa if desired. Sprinkle with some capers and parsley.
• Break an egg into the center. Taking care so that none of the egg seeps out, fold over one point of the spring-roll wrapper to meet the opposite point, to make a triangle.
• Gently slip the filled brik off the saucer and into the hot oil. Cook a minute or so, until golden on the underside, turn over and cook about another minute. Remove from the oil with a spatula, and drain briefly on absorbent paper. Prepare the remaining briks, fry them and serve while still hot, with lemon wedges.