Best Tunisian Tripe Recipes

SPANISH TRIPE STEW WITH CHICK PEAS, CHORIZO AND PAPRIKA

Steps:

• Soak the dried chickpeas overnight. Salt and pepper the tripe and pork and toss them with the flour. Heat the olive oil in a stewpot. Add tripe and pork. Cook until meats are lightly browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.
• Add the onions, garlic, white wine. Scrape up the browned bits, then add the can of tomatoes with liquid, crushing the tomatoes by hand, the hot Spanish paprika, and the drained chick-peas. Stir to combine. Simmer over low heat for 4 1/2 hours, checking occasionally to make sure meats are submerged in liquid, adding more liquid if necessary.
• After 4 1/2 hours add 1/2 pound whole chorizo and cook 1/2 hour more. Remove the chorizo and slice it. Return it to the pot and serve.
• Recommended drink: Pelligrini Carignane, Alexander Valley Old Vines, 1994

TUNISIAN LAMB STEW

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine lamb, egg white and spice mixture and mix well. When all the ingredients are combined, stuff olives with meat mixture. In a large saucepan, heat oil. Sear olives, meat side down, in the hot oil. Remove from pan and set aside. Add onions to the pan, and sweat until translucent. Add tomato paste, harissa, tomato puree, water and white beans, and bring it to a boil. When it reaches a boil, turn down the heat and simmer slowly until beans are tender, approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Add additional water if needed. Add seared stuffed olives and cook for 15 minutes more. Add pickled vegetables. Add salt and pepper to taste, and serve in a bowl, accompanied by a pita or baguette.

TRIPPA ALLA FIORENTINA: FLORENTINE TRIPE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, heat the extra-virgin olive oil. Add the garlic, celery, carrot, and onion and saute until they are soft. Add the tripe, and cook together on medium heat, for about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes including the juices. Break up the whole plum tomatoes with a fork.
• Let the mixture cook together until the sauce has reduced and thickened, about 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and add the freshly grated Parmigiano cheese. Stir well and serve warm.

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.