Skip to content

Vegetarian, Maghreb and Middle East

Tunisian kafteji with bread

Kafteji is a Tunisian dish of fried vegetables, potatoes, squash and peppers, chopped and mixed with egg and harissa. It serves 4, takes 45 minutes, is an easy recipe, and costs about €1.60 per serving. The key is frying the vegetables separately, then chopping them coarsely so they keep some texture.

This is kafteji, fried vegetables chopped up with egg and a touch of harissa, Tunis street food turned into dinner.

Tunisian kafteji with bread
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.60
Calories per person
740 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Summer
The kids
They generally like it

Kafteji smells like a street cart, the harissa adds just enough heat and the eggs bring everything together without turning it into mush. Each vegetable fries at its own pace, potatoes, squash, peppers, then you chop it all on a board so it keeps some bite. It's hearty, a little smoky, and the kind of dish you eat with bread and your hands.

It's a weeknight dish that breaks the routine, quick enough for a busy evening but with that street food feel that makes it special. Kids usually like it, especially if you go easy on the harissa, and adults can spice up their own plate with extra. It also works well for a relaxed Sunday lunch, served straight from the pan.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Potatoes 500 g
  • Squash 400 g
  • Green bell pepper 2

Dairy

  • Eggs 4

Pantry

  • Harissaoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Cuminoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Sunflower oiloften in the pantry 10 cl
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Bakery

  • Baguette 1

Allergens Gluten, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the potatoes, squash and peppers into even cubes.

    Cubes of the same size cook together and brown evenly.

  2. Fry each vegetable separately in hot oil, starting with the potatoes, and drain them. 20 min

    Don't mix them together, the squash and peppers cook much faster.

  3. Roughly chop all the fried vegetables with a spatula or a knife.

    A rough chop looks more appetizing than a smooth mash.

  4. Put everything back in the pan with the harissa and cumin and heat through, stirring. 5 min

    Dilute the harissa in a spoonful of water, it spreads more evenly.

  5. Crack the eggs on top, stir briskly so they coat the vegetables, and serve with bread. 3 min

    Take it off the heat while the eggs still look glossy, they'll finish cooking on the plate.

Our tips to get it right

  • Cut all the vegetables into similarly sized cubes before frying, they'll cook at the same rate and stay even once chopped.
  • Drain each vegetable well on paper towels after frying, otherwise the kafteji turns greasy and loses its texture.
  • If your pan isn't big enough for the eggs, lower the heat before adding them so they don't stick too fast.

The variations

  • Swap the squash for zucchini in summer, it cooks faster and gives a softer texture.
  • For a spicier version, add a crushed garlic clove with the harissa when reheating the vegetables.
  • For kids, serve the harissa on the side instead of mixed in, so everyone can adjust the heat themselves.

What to serve it with

  • Baguette or Tunisian flatbread
  • Black olives on the side
  • Mint tea

Storage

Kafteji keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container, ideally without the eggs since they don't reheat as well. Reheat it in a pan over low heat to bring back some crispness, freezing isn't recommended because fried vegetables lose their texture.

Questions about this dish

Can you roast the vegetables instead of frying them?

Yes, roast them at 200°C with a drizzle of oil instead. They'll be less soft but the dish still works, just allow a bit more cooking time and check they brown without burning.

Can you prep the vegetables ahead of time?

You can fry and chop the vegetables the day before and keep them in the fridge. Just reheat with the harissa and add the eggs at the last minute.

Can you swap the harissa if you don't like spicy food?

Yes, use a bit of tomato paste with some sweet paprika instead. The dish will lose its heat but keep its color and aroma.

Do you need a special pan to chop everything properly?

No, a regular wide skillet works fine, you just need enough room to chop without the vegetables spilling over. A wooden spatula works as well as a knife.

How long does it take to make a Tunisian kafteji with bread?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a Tunisian kafteji with bread?

About 740 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Tunisian kafteji with bread cost?

About €1.60 per serving, or €6.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

Maghreb and Middle Eastern cuisine

See all

Recipes with squash

See all