Tunisian couscous with donkey meat
Tunisian couscous with donkey meat is a medium Tunisian recipe that serves 5. 1200 calories per serving. Recipe by Cooking Love Soulef on YouTube.
Prep: 25 min | Cook: 1 hr 32 min | Total: 2 hrs 12 min
Cost: $20.28 total, $4.06 per serving
Ingredients
- 500 g Medium couscous (wheat semolina) (Medium grain, fine)
- 3 cuillères à soupe Extra virgin olive oil (For sautéing the onion and the meat)
- 1 pièce Medium onion (Finely sliced)
- 800 g Donkey meat (or lamb) (Medium-sized, boneless pieces)
- 2 cuillères à soupe Tomato paste (Tomato paste)
- 1 cuillère à café Salt (Fine salt)
- 0.5 cuillère à café Ground black pepper (Freshly ground pepper)
- 1 cuillère à café Sweet paprika (Mild paprika, not spicy)
- 1 cuillère à café “Table” spice blend (coriander + caraway) (Traditional Tunisian spice)
- 1.5 L Boiling water or broth (For cooking the meat)
- 2 pièces Carrots (Sliced into rounds)
- 2 pièces Zucchini (Diced)
- 2 pièces Potatoes (Diced)
- 1 kg Precooked chickpeas (Drained and rinsed)
- 1 cuillère à soupe Additional olive oil (To coat the couscous grains)
Instructions
Hydrate the couscous
Place the couscous in a large bowl, add just enough warm water to moisten the grains, then rub with your fingers until slightly damp but not wet.
Time: PT5M
Coat the couscous with oil
Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and gently mix with your fingers to coat each grain.
Time: PT3M
First steam cooking
Pour water into the lower part of the couscoussier, bring to a boil, place the basket containing the couscous above and steam for 20 minutes until the grains are puffed and tender.
Time: PT20M
Temperature: 100°C
Sauté the onion
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the pressure cooker, add the chopped onion and sauté for 5 minutes until translucent.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: 180°C
Sear the meat
Add the donkey meat pieces to the pot, brown for 5 minutes while stirring to achieve a nice color.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: 180°C
Add tomato paste and spices
Stir in the tomato paste, salt, pepper, sweet paprika and the “table” blend. Mix for 2 minutes to release the aromas.
Time: PT2M
Pressure cooking
Pour 1.5 L of boiling water (or broth) into the pot, close the lid and pressure cook for 20 minutes.
Time: PT20M
Add the carrots
Release the pressure, open the pot, add the carrot rounds and continue cooking over medium heat for 10 minutes.
Time: PT10M
Temperature: 100°C
Add zucchini and potatoes
Stir in the diced zucchini and potatoes, cook another 10 minutes until tender.
Time: PT10M
Temperature: 100°C
Stir in the chickpeas
Add the precooked chickpeas, mix and simmer for 5 minutes to warm through.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: 100°C
Second steam cooking of the couscous
Return the couscous to the couscoussier basket, add a splash of water if needed and steam for an additional 10 minutes to fluff the grains.
Time: PT10M
Temperature: 100°C
Drizzle the couscous with the sauce
Transfer the couscous to a large serving dish, gently pour the hot sauce over it, lightly stir and let absorb for 10 minutes before serving.
Time: PT10M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 1200
- Protein
- 70 g
- Carbohydrates
- 150 g
- Fat
- 45 g
- Fiber
- 12 g
Dietary info: non-vegetarian, contains meat, contains gluten, high-protein, high-fiber
Allergens: gluten
Last updated: April 11, 2026





