Kafteji: A Vibrant and Flavourful Taste of North African Cuisine

Kafteji Tunisian Dish

Kafteji is a traditional Tunisian dish that offers a vibrant and flavourful taste of North African cuisine. It’s a unique dish made from a medley of vegetables, each individually fried and then chopped up together. The name “Kafteji” comes from the Arabic word “kefteh,” meaning “to chop,” which reflects the dish’s preparation method.

The Main Ingredients

The main ingredients typically include a mix of seasonal vegetables such as zucchini, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, and bell peppers. In addition to these, you’ll often find onions, pumpkins, and sometimes green beans or carrots included in the mix. What makes Kafteji distinct is the way each vegetable is separately fried to achieve its perfect texture and flavour before they are all combined.

Prepare the Vegetables

To prepare Kafteji, each vegetable is first peeled (if necessary), sliced, and fried until golden. The vegetables are then chopped together on a large cutting board, resulting in a colourful, textured mixture. This blend of vegetables is seasoned with salt, pepper, and sometimes other spices like cumin or coriander, which are common in Tunisian cooking.

Once the vegetables are prepared, they are often mixed with beaten eggs and fried again, resulting in a sort of vegetable omelette. This step adds richness and binds the vegetables together, creating a more cohesive dish. Kafteji is typically served as a side dish or as a filling for sandwiches, often in a traditional Tunisian bread called “khobz.”

Enjoyed with Grilled Meat

Kafteji is commonly enjoyed with grilled meats, especially the famous Tunisian merguez sausages, or as a standalone vegetarian meal. It’s a versatile dish, offering a balance of textures from the crispy fried vegetables to the creamy eggs. The combination of fresh produce, simple seasoning, and the unique preparation method makes Kafteji a beloved dish in Tunisian cuisine, celebrated for its ability to turn humble vegetables into a hearty, flavourful meal.

Step by Step How to Make Kafteji Dish Recipe

Ingredients:

2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 medium zucchini (courgette), diced
2 bell peppers (preferably green and red), deseeded and diced
2 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
4 eggs
1 small eggplant (optional), diced
2-3 green chili peppers (optional, for a spicier version), deseeded and chopped
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp paprika
Salt and black pepper to taste
Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions:

Prepare the vegetables:
1. In a large frying pan or skillet, heat a generous amount of vegetable oil over medium heat.
2. Start by frying the potatoes until they are golden and cooked through. Remove and drain on paper towels.
3. Next, fry the zucchini until lightly browned and cooked. Remove and drain on paper towels.
4. Fry the eggplant (if using), bell peppers, and green chili peppers (if using) in the same way, removing and draining each as they are done.
5. Fry the chopped onions until translucent and slightly caramelized. Add the minced garlic and sauté for a minute more.

Cook the tomatoes:
1. In the same pan, add a bit more oil if necessary and add the chopped tomatoes. Cook them until they start to break down and form a sauce.
2. Season with salt, black pepper, cumin, coriander, and paprika. Stir well to combine.

Combine and chop:
1. Return all the fried vegetables to the pan with the tomatoes. Mix everything together thoroughly.
2. Use a large knife or a potato masher to roughly chop the vegetables together in the pan. You want them to be well-mixed but not completely mashed.

Add the eggs:
1. Make a few wells in the mixture and crack the eggs into them. Let the eggs cook for a few minutes until the whites are set but the yolks are still a bit runny, or cook them to your desired doneness.
2. Mix the eggs into the vegetable mixture.