Tunisian Beef Cumin Stew
A rich, deeply spiced North African stew made with tender chunks of beef simmered in harissa, tomato paste, and warm spices like cumin, turmeric, and paprika — a bold, comforting dish best served with couscous or crusty bread.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Tunisian
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 1/2 lb beef chuck, cut into cubes
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp harissa paste
- 3 cups hot water
- 3 tsp paprika
- 3 tsp turmeric
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef cubes and sear on all sides until browned, about 5–7 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste and harissa. Cook for 2–3 minutes to develop flavor.
- Add all spices: paprika, turmeric, cumin, black pepper, and salt. Stir well to coat the beef.
- Pour in hot water and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until beef is tender and sauce is thickened.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot with crusty bread, rice, or couscous.
Notes
- Use beef chuck for its richness and ability to become tender with slow cooking.
- Adjust harissa to taste for more or less heat.
- Add potatoes or chickpeas to stretch the dish and add variety.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Find it online: https://yumfoodusa.com/tunisian-beef-cumin-stew/