Infused Tunisian Berkoukes with Caramelized Onion and Date

Name: Infused Tunisian Berkoukes with Caramelized Onion and Date
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: Berkoukes (large grain couscous) or small pasta; Vegetable broth; Olive oil; Onions, thinly sliced; Medjool dates, pitted and chopped; Unsalted butter; Brown sugar; Ground cinnamon; Ground coriander; Cumin seeds; Paprika; Salt and pepper; Fresh coriander leaves, chopped; Toasted almond slivers

A traditional Tunisian delight reimagined with sweet and savory accents

Infused Tunisian Berkoukes is a hearty pasta dish enriched with the sweet depth of caramelized onions and dates, perfect for a soulful meal.

1 h 45 min
4
Intermediate

Ingredients

Berkoukes Pasta

Berkoukes (large grain couscous) or small pasta

300g

Vegetable broth

4 cups

Olive oil

1 tablespoon

Caramelized Onion & Date Mixture

Onions, thinly sliced

2 large

Medjool dates, pitted and chopped

5-6

Unsalted butter

2 tablespoons

Brown sugar

1 tablespoon

Ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon

Spice Infusion

Ground coriander

1 teaspoon

Cumin seeds

1 teaspoon

Paprika

1/2 teaspoon

Salt and pepper

To taste

Garnishing

Fresh coriander leaves, chopped

Toasted almond slivers

Preparation

Marinating the Dates

Mix dates

In a small bowl, mix chopped dates with ground cinnamon and a tablespoon of warm water.

Soften dates

Let the mixture sit for at least 15 minutes to soften the dates.

Drain excess

Drain any excess liquid before using.

Preparing the Caramelized Onions

Heat butter

Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat.

Cook onions

Add sliced onions and cook until translucent, about 10 minutes.

Caramelize onions

Add brown sugar, stirring constantly until onions are golden brown and caramelized.

For best flavor, allow the onions to caramelize slowly without rushing the process. Do not leave the onions unattended; stirring frequently prevents burning. Add a splash of water if the onions start to stick, to maintain moisture.

Cooking Process

Prepare Berkoukes

Simmer the Berkoukes in vegetable broth until tender, then drain excess liquid.

Integrate onions and dates

Combine caramelized onions and date mixture in a pan, adding cumin seeds and ground coriander.

Assemble final dish

Gently mix the Berkoukes with the onion-date-spice blend, season with paprika, salt, and pepper.

Plating & Serving