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EveryMasala

Regional blends

Tabil

A Tunisian blend of coriander, caraway, garlic and chilli, from a word meaning seasoning.

Tabil is a Tunisian blend of coriander seed, caraway, garlic and dried chilli. In Tunisia it is also a word for any seasoning. It is dry and coarse and used to flavour soups, stews, meatballs and couscous.

What goes in

Coriander seed: 38%38%Caraway: 23%23%Garlic: 23%23%Dried chilli: 15%15%13parts

Parts by volume of the whole spice. The ring shows each part's share.

Made step by step

Each drawing shows the operation for that step. Ratios and timings differ from house to house; this is one traditional-style way.

  1. Step 1: Dry Dry the garlic slices until crisp.
  2. Step 2: Toast Toast the coriander and caraway.
  3. Step 3: Rest Cool the spices.
  4. Step 4: Pound Pound them in a mortar with chilli and garlic.
  5. Step 5: Blend Sieve if a finer powder is wanted.
  6. Step 6: Store Store in a jar.
  7. Coriander seed: 38%38%Caraway: 23%23%Garlic: 23%23%Dried chilli: 15%15%
    Finished Tabil, by share.

Character

Caraway is the signature, a taste used in North Africa and in Central Europe too. Coriander and garlic give a rounded base. Some cooks add cumin or dried mint.

Use

It seasons ojja, a spicy tomato and egg dish, and bean soups. Households toast and pound it fresh at home.

Where it is used

OjjaBean soupMeatballsCouscous

The spices in it

CarawaySignature.CorianderSeed.CarawayThe crescent-shaped fruit of a carrot-family herb, used to flavour breads and spirits.Chili pepperThe pungent berry of the Capsicum plant, used to add heat to dishes worldwide.

Also part of it, and being written: Garlic (Dried.).

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Sources and further reading

About this page

Original text and drawings by the EveryMasala desk, written with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. The shares are an illustrative, traditional-style ratio, not a standard: every family and maker blends differently. If we have something wrong, tell us.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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