🇹🇳 Makaruna Bessalsa – Authentic Tunisian Pasta with Chicken & Harissa 🔥🍝

Makaruna Bessalsa is a true Tunisian classic – rich, spicy and full of flavor.

It was actually the first Tunisian dish I ever learned how to cook, and until today everyone I’ve made it for has loved it. It tastes completely different from Italian pasta – deeper, more aromatic and beautifully spiced.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken drumsticks
• 3–4 long green peppers
• 1 large tbsp tomato paste
• Harissa (to taste)
• 1 tbsp Ras el Hanout
• ½ tbsp cumin
• 1 whole garlic bulb (8–10 cloves), chopped
• Salt & black pepper
• A little rosemary
• 4–5 bay leaves
• 3–4 tbsp olive oil
• 400–500 g shell pasta
• Water

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a pot and fry the green peppers. Remove and set aside.
2. In the same pot, sear the chicken drumsticks. Add tomato paste and harissa and cook briefly (don’t let it burn).
3. Add Ras el Hanout, cumin, garlic, salt, pepper and a little rosemary. Mix well.
4. Pour in enough water to cover the chicken. Add bay leaves and let simmer for 25–30 minutes.
5. Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain.
6. Mix pasta with the sauce. Place chicken and fried peppers on top and serve.

Simple, bold and full of Tunisian flavor. 🍅🔥

This is one of those dishes you can always make – and it never disappoints.