1
Start broth
Cook onion, tomato paste, harissa, spices, chickpeas, and water into a red broth.
broth
18:00
Tunisia | Recipe
Tunisian Fish Couscous
Tunisian couscous steamed over spicy tomato fish broth with vegetables, chickpeas, and harissa.
Country
Tunisia
Region
North Africa
Time
105 min
Serves
6
Level
medium
Recipe overview
What to know before you cook
Tunisian fish couscous, often called couscous bil hout, brings the coast to the couscousier. Spicy tomato broth, vegetables, chickpeas, and firm fish season the grains as they steam.
What the dish tastes like
Tunisian couscous steamed over spicy tomato fish broth with vegetables, chickpeas, and harissa.
When to cook it
Best for Best for Friday couscous, coastal lunches, and family gatherings., with a medium cooking level and about 105 minutes total.
What to serve alongside it
Extra harissa broth, lemon, olives, and salad.
Regional lane
Tunisia national table. A verified Tunisia dish in the AfroKitchen archive.
Chef watch-outs
- Rushing the base before the raw edge has cooked out.
- Adding all seasoning early and forgetting to adjust at the end.
- Cooking on heat that is too high once the dish should be steaming or simmering.
How you know it is ready
- The aroma should smell rounded rather than raw or sharp.
- Oil, sauce, broth, or steam should look settled and deliberate.
- The final texture should match the dish style before you plate it.
Recipe photos
See the dish before you cook
Each recipe supports one main image and up to four extra prep, serving, or step photos when they are available.
Chef board
Build the table around Tunisian Fish Couscous
Extra harissa broth, lemon, olives, and salad.
Best route from here
Tunisia national table
Collections to keep cooking
How to cook it
Step-by-step method
Keep the rhythm calm, watch the texture, and adjust seasoning at the end.
4 steps
105 min total
medium
2
Steam couscous
Rub couscous with oil and steam over the broth, then fluff and steam again.
steam
25:00
3
Cook vegetables
Add carrots and potatoes to the broth, then zucchini near the end.
vegetables
25:00
4
Poach fish
Add fish steaks and simmer gently until cooked, then serve broth and fish over couscous.
fish
12:00
Fish choice changes by coast and season. Some versions include pumpkin, potatoes, carrots, turnips, or peppers.