Cuisine of Djerba Island for gourmets. Places for dinner - best restaurants

Having meals here on Djerba Island is as important as, for instance, working or spending time with one’s family. Suffice it to say, no self-respecting Tunisian would dare eating standing up or on the move. What is more, the majority of local families wouldn’t even warm leftovers from the last dinner but would rather just throw it away and cook a fresh dish. The local cuisine is a kind of mix of Turkish, Spanish, Carthaginian, French, and the island’s original cooking traditions. However, it’s good to know that there is no one common recipe for each dish; people not just from different families, but even from different towns cook traditional meals in their own way, even that famous harissa.

Concerning restaurants, to make clients feel full is more important than a nice serving, that’s why you would be definitely pleasantly surprised by portions size. Remember that most meat and fish hot dishes are considered to be for two, so it might be hard for you to eat a whole meal just on your own. Besides, we would advise you not to order too many appetizers or desserts. The point is that, again, due to the portion size, you likely won’t manage to finish up such a great amount of food. In case if you want to grab a bite in a street café, it’s better to go the one which is popular among locals. Moreover, it’s also better to go to one about which you’ve heard highly positive recommendations.

As is known, food tends to decay soon in heat. Furthermore, new food can cause digestion issues. Besides, it’s a well-known fact that spices are one of the main ingredients in the local cuisine. So, for instance, while you’ll desperately looking for something to wash it down, some Tunisian sitting next to you would eat the same dish without batting an eye. That’s exactly what is called a «force of habit.» Tips here are not included in a check, so you can just pay it to a waiter separately if you want to (a tip make 10% from an order). Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Locals usually start their meal with a roasted red pepper paste, garlic, species, and olive oil. The dish is called «harissa» and there are lots of variations of it – it depends on grinding, cooling techniques, and proportions. So, just put some paste on your plate, add oil and then dip a slice of a baguette (which is highly loved by locals). If you’re trying it for the first time, don’t get too carried away – the dish is extremely hot.

Tuna, olive, and salad appetizers are especially good too. And also don’t miss to try Omak Houriya salad made from carrots and pumpkins and Mechouia salad with grilled peppers, garlic, and tomatoes. If talking about warm snacks, there are also such ones which can easily be a kind of the main dish as well. One of them is Brik – a local kind of patty with potatoes, tuna, eggs, and parsley. A proper Brik must be with a runny yolk and strong flavour of whites.

Tajine – an omelette with chicken, potatoes, greens, and onions. The dish is about the size of a whole pie. Other delicious snacks are Kefta – meatballs with sauce – and grilled seafood. Thick soups with, for instance, cereal and sieved vegetables. Besides, local traditional soups are mostly cooked with a great amount of tomato paste. Shorba with fish or mutton is particularly delicious.

Oh, and don’t forget about Couscous – a meal made from vegetables, meat, fish or seafood with wheat cereal, pepper, and eggs. People here cook Mesfouf for special occasions – a sweat version of Couscous with figs, nuts, and sugar syrup.

As for fish, it’s customary to deep-fry, grill, bake it in foil or in salt. You can just choose the one you’d like to have the most. The best time for ordering fish is not-stormy days, as local fishermen will have a really big catch. A finished meal is always cut up and then only filet is served. And, of course, don’t forget to squeeze lemon on it!

If you prefer meat, then you can have grilled mutton (ribs and steaks in particular). In case if you’re fond of something more exotic, you can taste a lamb head here on the island (its brains and cheeks are the tastiest parts). In restaurants you can order beef as well, but, on the other hand, they serve no pork.

When in Kairouan, buy yourself tremendously tasty cookies with nuts and figs which are called «makhroud». Kaber – sweet marzipan balls –, Kaak El Warka – a dough ring with or without nut filling –, and Mlyabes – little glazed cakes – are worth trying as well. Moreover, baklava is highly good too. If you decide to go to a «pâtisserie» pastry-shop, take some sweets made from various kinds of nuts, honey, flour, and powdered sugar.

Concerning beverages, local extremely love very hot green tea with mint, pine nuts or honey. Besides, the drink coffee as well. It can be both «European» café crème or a very strong one with thick coffee ground. If you’re looking to try alcohol here, order local wine: Magon, Gris de Tunisie, Muscat de Kelibia.