Pkaila
User Reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
4 hrs
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Total Time
4 hrs 20 mins
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Servings
8 people
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Israeli, Tunisian, North African
Pkaila
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Pkaila is the most famous Jewish Tunisian dish. This beef stew, prepared with fried spinach and white beans, is often served with couscous.
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Ingredients
- 3 cups dry white beans , soaked overnight
- 2 lb spinach (fresh or frozen)
- vegetable oil
- 1 onion , minced
- 6 cloves garlic , mashed
- 2 lb beef shank (or cheek), cut into 1-inch (5 cm) cubes
- 1 beef foot (or calf foot)
- 1 tablespoon harissa
- 1 bunch mint , minced
- 1 bunch cilantro , minced
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
Spinach Confit
Option 1:
- Use the ready-made spinach confit.
Option 2:
- Chop fresh spinach (or use frozen chopped spinach). Cook over medium heat in a Dutch oven and stir quite regularly with a wooden spoon. Once spinach is almost done with releasing steam, start adding oil. Continue to stir and add oil fairly regularly (for about 1 to 1½ hours) until color turns black but spinach is not burnt.
Option 3: Microwave
- Place the 2 lb (1 kg) of previously drained frozen spinach on a plate. Add 5 tablespoons of vegetable oil (or olive oil) on top. Heat in the microwave oven for 15 minutes. Repeat this step 3 times. Just stir and add 5 tablespoons of oil in between each heating in the microwave. Once this is complete, chop the spinach confit in a blender or with a knife. Add into a jar and cover with oil. This spinach confit can be stored in the fridge for at least three months.
Pkaila
- Drain the spinach to extract the oil. Sauté the garlic, onion, harissa, the cow's (or calf's) foot, the beef in this oil for a few minutes. Then add the beans, spinach, salt, pepper and cover with water.
Cooking option 1: Dutch oven
- Simmer covered on low heat for at least 2 to 3 hours or until the meat is tender. Add mint and cilantro 30 minutes before the end of cooking.
Cooking option 2: Pressure cooker
- Cook for 1h15 in a pressure cooker. Add mint and cilantro and simmer for another 10 minutes or until reaching desired consistency.
Notes
- Pkaila is most generally accompanied by couscous but can also be served without couscous and with Tunisian bread aka "Italian bread" .
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
12 reviews
Excellent
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