بريك
Brik
A crispy fried pastry pocket, commonly filled with tuna, herbs, and a soft-cooked egg.
EggsFishDairyGlutenSesame
Tunisian Cuisine Guide
Tunisian Allergen Guide
Bread, eggs, tuna, sesame, and spicy surprises: spot them before they spot you.
Signature heat:Harissa shows up everywhere (sometimes mixed into sauces or marinades).
Carb anchors:Baguette, semolina couscous, and thin pastry sheets are common.
Frequent add-ons:Hard-boiled egg, tuna, olives, capers, and lemon wedges.
Mealtime style:Shared starters (salads, fritters) and hearty street sandwiches are everywhere.
Spice cue words:Harissa, kamoun (cumin), and “méchoui/مشوي” (grilled/roasted) hint at flavor and preparation.
Allergen Overview
How common each allergen is in this cuisine. Always confirm with staff.
Gluten
Often Present
Bread, pastry, and semolina are staples (sandwiches, soups with bread, couscous, fried dough). Even “safe-looking” dishes may come with bread by default.
Dairy
Usually Avoidable
Many Tunisian staples are naturally dairy-free, but dairy can appear via cheese fillings, butter/clarified butter, or creamy sauces in modern cafés.
Eggs
Sometimes Present
Eggs are a major topping and filling: common in breakfast plates and also in popular street foods and salads.
Fish
Sometimes Present
Tuna is a frequent Tunisian favorite, especially in sandwiches, pastries, and salad garnishes. Fish may be added without being emphasized in the dish name.
Shellfish
Rare
Shellfish is less common in everyday street staples but can appear in coastal restaurants, seafood stews, or special brik fillings.
Soy
Rare
Soy is not a classic base ingredient, but it can appear via processed sauces, marinades, or packaged dressings in modern kitchens.
Sesame
Sometimes Present
Sesame can show up as tahini-like sauces, sprinkled seeds on bread, or in spice blends. It’s easy to miss because it’s often a garnish.
Tree Nuts
Rare
Tree nuts are more common in sweets than savory foods, but they may appear as garnishes or in desserts near the register.
Peanuts
Rare
Peanuts are not central in classic Tunisian savory dishes, but cross-contact can happen in cafés (desserts, sauces, shared fryers).
Hidden Ingredients to Watch
Unexpected allergen sources that may not be obvious on menus.
Malsouqa / warka / phyllo sheets
Usually wheat-based pastry (gluten) and often fried in shared oil
Found in: Brik, stuffed pastries, crispy rolls
Egg as “garnish”
Eggs may be added on top even if not mentioned
Found in: Salads (Mechouia), sandwiches (Fricassée), soups (Lablabi)
Tuna (sometimes implied)
Fish allergen that can appear as a topping or filler
Found in: Brik, Fricassée, Mechouia Salad, sandwich spreads
Semolina (سميد) / couscous base
Semolina is wheat (gluten) even when it looks like “grains”
Found in: Couscous plates, some flatbreads, some fritter mixes
Smen / butter / cheese add-ons
Dairy can appear in fillings or finishing fat
Found in: Pastry fillings, café-style eggs, some breads and sauces
Sesame / tahini-style sauces (طحينة)
Sesame is a major allergen and often used sparingly
Found in: Dressings, sandwich sauces, sprinkled on bread
Featured Dishes
لبلابي
Lablabi
A warming chickpea soup typically served over torn bread and topped with harissa, olive oil, and optional egg or tuna.
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كسكس تونسي
Tunisian Couscous
Steamed semolina couscous served with a spiced stew of vegetables and meat or fish, often with harissa heat.
FishGlutenShellfish
فريكاسي
Fricassée
A fried bread sandwich stuffed with tuna, egg, potatoes, olives, and punchy condiments like harissa and capers.
SoyEggsFishGlutenSesame
سلطة مشوية
Mechouia Salad
A smoky grilled vegetable salad, usually finished with olive oil and often topped with tuna, olives, and hard-boiled egg.
EggsFish
شكشوكة
Shakshouka
Eggs cooked in a spiced tomato-pepper sauce, sometimes with merguez sausage and served with bread.
EggsDairyGluten
What to Ask the Staff
Copy these questions to show restaurant staff. Available in English and Tunisian Arabic.
English
- Does this dish contain wheat, bread, semolina, or flour (gluten)?
- Is anything fried in a shared fryer with breaded items?
- Does it contain egg, or is egg added as a topping/garnish?
- Is tuna or any fish added (even as a small garnish)?
- Does it contain shrimp or any shellfish, or seafood stock?
- Is there any cheese, butter, milk, or cream in it?
- Do any sauces or dressings contain sesame or tahini?
- Do any sauces contain soy (soy sauce or soybean oil)?
- Can you prepare it without the risky topping (egg/tuna/sesame) and keep sauce on the side?
- Can you confirm the ingredients, including what’s mixed into the sauce?
Tunisian Arabic
- هل هذا الطبق فيه قمح أو خبز أو سميد أو دقيق (غلوتين)؟
- هل تقْلون في نفس الزيت مع أشياء مُغطّاة بالدقيق/الخبز؟
- هل فيه بيض، أو يضيفون البيض كزينة فوق؟
- هل فيه تونة أو سمك حتى لو كزينة صغيرة؟
- هل فيه روبيان أو محار أو مرق/مرق بحري؟
- هل فيه جبن أو زبدة أو حليب أو كريمة؟
- هل الصوص/التتبيلة فيها سمسم أو طحينة؟
- هل الصوص فيه صويا (صلصة الصويا أو زيت صويا)؟
- تنجموا تعملوه بلا الزينة الخطرة (بيض/تونة/سمسم) وتخلّوا الصوص على جنب؟
- تنجموا تأكّدولي المكوّنات الكل، حتى اللي داخل في الصوص؟
Menu Glossary (Tunisian Arabic)
Common menu words to help identify ingredients and allergens.
غلوتين= gluten
Often tied to wheat, bread, semolina, and fried dough.
قمح= wheat
Key gluten source in bread, couscous, and pastry.
دقيق= flour
Used in dough, frying coatings, and sauce thickening.
سميد= semolina
Wheat product; common base for couscous and some breads.
خبز= bread
Often served automatically; ask to skip for gluten avoidance.
بيض= eggs
Common in shakshouka, brik, and as a garnish.
حليب= milk
Less common in classic savory dishes but appears in cafés and sauces.
جبن= cheese
May appear in fillings or as a topping; ask explicitly.
زبدة= butter
Can be used to finish dishes or in pastries.
تونة= tuna
Very common fish allergen in sandwiches, salads, and brik.
سمك= fish
May appear in garnish, stock, or coastal versions of dishes.
روبيان= shrimp
Shellfish; more likely in coastal seafood dishes or special fillings.
سمسم= sesame
Often a garnish or in tahini-style sauces; easy to miss.
طحينة= tahini
Sesame paste; ask if dressings contain it.
صويا= soy
Not classic, but can appear in bottled sauces or marinades.
فول سوداني= peanuts
Rare in savory foods but cross-contact can happen in cafés and shared oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many dishes offer heat through harissa, but spice level varies. Ask for harissa on the side so you control both spice and potential hidden ingredients in sauces.
Related Guides
Explore similar cuisines and dietary guides for more allergen insights.
Dietary Guides
Important Disclaimer
Niblu provides informational guidance only and cannot guarantee allergen-free food. Recipes and preparation vary by restaurant, and cross-contact can occur. Always confirm ingredients and preparation with staff, especially for severe allergies.