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5.0 from 6 votes

Mermez

Mermez is a traditional hearty, filling chickpea stew of onions prepared with lamb or beef, that is originally from Tunisia.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
Servings: 8 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Tunisian , North African

Ingredients

  • 3 lb lamb shoulder , boneless and cut into pieces
  • 2 cups chickpeas
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons harissa
  • 4 cloves garlic , pressed
  • 3 onions , cut into strips
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 teaspoons tabil (Tunisian spice blend, incl. coriander, caraway, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder)
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 green hot peppers (or more)
  • salt
  • pepper
Equipment
  • Pressure cooker

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Soak the chickpeas for 12 hours in cold water with baking soda.
  2. In a pressure cooker, add the olive oil and heat it over low heat.
  3. Add the onions and sauté for 3 minutes, stirring regularly.
  4. Add the meat and brown on all sides for a few minutes.
  5. Add the tomato paste and harissa and fry for a few minutes, stirring regularly.
  6. Add the chickpeas and mix well.
  7. Add enough boiling water to fill ¾ of the pressure cooker and cover (without locking) for 10 minutes, until boiling.
  8. Add the garlic and black pepper. Be careful, you should not add any salt at this point, or the chickpeas would remain hard.
  9. Lock the pressure cooker and cook for 30 minutes over medium heat.
  10. Remove the pressure cooker from the heat and open it. Test the tenderness of the chickpeas and the meat and extend the cooking for 10 minutes, with the pressure cooker locked, if necessary.
  11. Return the pressure cooker to low heat and add the cumin and the paprika. Cook uncovered over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring gently.
  12. Finally, add the green hot peppers and salt. Mix gently and cook covered for 10 minutes.
  13. Serve with Tunisian Italian bread.

Notes

  • The sauce should be compact and unctuous. So, add a little boiling water at the end of cooking or reduce the sauce by increasing the heat, if necessary.