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Barkoukesh (Hand-Rolled Giant Couscous with Seafood)
Plump hand-rolled durum grains simmered in a rich, fiery tomato and octopus broth laden with coastal Kerkennah sea treasures.
The story
Originating from the Kerkennah archipelago off the eastern coast of Tunisia, this robust dish sustains fishermen during turbulent winter sea voyages. Unlike standard fine couscous, Kerkennah barkoukesh uses thick, sun-dried semolina pearls rolled by hand and boiled directly within the spiced stew rather than steamed in a kouskoussiya. The foundational base relies on sun-dried octopus or freshly landed cuttlefish simmered with harissa arbi and tabil spice mix to infuse every starchy grain with deep oceanic brine.
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