Tajine El Bey: Tunisia's Finest Appetizer

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This specific Tajine is fancy! It is named after the beys who are considered royalty in Tunisia.

Have you heard of Tunisian Tajine? It is definitely not like Moroccan Tajine. Tajine in Tunisia signifies an appetizer that consists of a mixture of ground beef and eggs with many other ingredients that is baked in the oven.

It isn’t a glamorous dish, but it sure is very popular. You’ll find it at weddings, family lunch gatherings, and many other events. Everyone eats Tajine, it is a safe and delicious food. It resembles a Frittata or Crustless quiche.

Tajine El Bey

This specific Tajine is fancy! It is named after the beys who are considered royalty in Tunisia. The Tajine is visibly appealing because it consists of three gorgeous and vibrant layers: the bottom is the ground beef mixture, the middle layer is a spinach mixture, and the top is a ricotta and cheese layer.

It is soft, decadent, and delicious! I took this one to my neighbors’ house and they loved it. The three layers blend well in terms of flavor, each offering a unique taste. I highly recommend you make this. Hope you enjoy!

INGREDIENTS: (serves 8-10)

Beef layer:

300 gr ground beef
1 medium green onion (or any other type of onion)
4 cloves of garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
salt & pepper
3 egg yolks (save the whites) + 1 whole egg

Spinach layer:

1 bunch of spinach ~ 3 cups packed
1 clove of garlic
black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
1 egg
1 tbsp shredded cheese (I used gruyere)

Ricotta & cheese layer:

200 gr ricotta
2 tbsp shredded cheese
salt and pepper
3 egg whites + 1 whole egg
Pistachios for decoration (optional)

Tajine El Bey RECIPE:

How to Cook Tajine El Bey

Preheat the oven to 175 C.
Dice the onions and place in a sauce pan with the ground beef, salt & pepper, olive oil, and garlic. Put on medium heat and cook until the onions are wilted and the beef is almost done.
Add the eggs, mix well, and place in a non-stick baking dish or regular dish with parchment paper. Place it in the oven for 10 min.
While the beef layer is in the oven, in the same saucepan, place the spinach, olive oil, and garlic and let it cook until the spinach has completely wilted and the water has evaporated from the spinach.
Place the cooked spinach in a blender and add the egg and cheese. Blend until combined. Take the dish out of the oven and pour the spinach mixture on top. Place back in the oven.
For the ricotta layer, mix the ricotta with the shredded cheese, salt & pepper, and the egg whites and whole egg. You can remove all the yolks if you want the layer to be extra white. Mix with a hand mixer so that everything is well incorporated.
Remove the dish from the oven and add the ricotta layer. Place back in the oven for the last 10 minutes or until the top layer has set.
Remove the dish from the oven and let it cool slightly, then cut into small pieces and decorate with pistachios (optional). You can also use walnuts instead. Serve warm.

#TasteTunisia Initiative

This Tajine El Bey recipe is part of the #TasteTunisia initiative. In search of Tunisian cuisine, through a series of articles/videos, Carthage Magazine offers a window to the Tunisian food and recipes.

The Taste Tunisia initiative is supported by Carthage Magazine and led by international registered dietitians-nutritionists from Tunisia, making it the ultimate initiative that celebrates and promotes Tunisian cuisine.

#TasteTunisia Recipes:

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Tajine El Bey: Tunisia’s Finest Appetizer5 min read