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+ servings

Tajine el Bey

Sabrina Gérard
Tajine el Bey is a delicious and refined variant of Tunisian tajine. It consists of 3 layers of stuffing's mounted separately to compose a layer of meat, spinach base and ricotta, representing the 3 colors of the Bey of Tunis.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine north african, Tunisian
Servings 8
Calories 559 kcal

Equipment

  • Baking dish (13 x 9 inches)

Ingredients
  

  • For the meat layer
  • 1 lb beef ground
  • 2 onions grated
  • 3 cloves garlic pressed
  • 2 oz. cheese e.g. mozzarella, grated
  • 4 eggs beaten
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon tabel Tunisian spice blend
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • For the spinach layer
  • 10 oz. fresh spinach rinsed, drained and finely chopped,
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 2 oz. cheese e.g. mozzarella, grated
  • ½ teaspoon tabel
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • For the ricotta layer
  • 10 oz. ricotta
  • 2 oz. cheese e.g. mozzarella, grated
  • 3 egg whites lightly beaten
  • Black pepper
  • For the mold
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • For the decor
  • 3 oz. walnuts or pistachios, slightly roasted, crushed

Instructions
 

  • For the meat layer
  • In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat and brown the onions for a few minutes.
  • Add the ground meat and garlic and stir well.
  • Add the cumin and the tabel. Add salt, black pepper and mix well.
  • Cook the meat over medium heat, uncovered, for 15 minutes, stirring regularly.
  • Remove the meat from the heat and let it cool for 15 minutes.
  • Add the grated cheese and eggs and mix well.
  • Gently mix this preparation to obtain a smooth and even layer.
  • Preheat the oven to 350F (180˚C).
  • Butter a baking dish and pour all the ground meat mixture.
  • Using a spatula, even out the surface.
  • Bake for 10 minutes. The surface must harden a little.
  • For the spinach layer
  • In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Sauté the spinach, stirring regularly until all the liquid is reduced.
  • Let cool completely then add the egg yolks, the whole eggs, and the tabel.
  • Season with salt, pepper and stir well.
  • Pour the spinach stuffing in the oven dish, on top of the meat layer, then sprinkle with grated cheese.
  • Bake for 10 minutes.
  • For the ricotta layer
  • Mix the ricotta, grated cheese, and egg whites.
  • Add the ricotta mixture to the spinach layer and bake again for 10 minutes.
  • Let cool and cut small diamond-shaped slices.
  • Sprinkle each with crushed nuts or pistachios or a mixture of both.

Nutrition

Calories: 559kcal
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