Mesfouf (Tunisian Sweet Couscous with Dates and Nuts)
Local name: مسفوف
In short: Fluffy steamed couscous tossed with butter, dates, raisins, almonds and pistachios and scented with orange blossom water, a sweet Tunisian classic. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 520 kcal
Mesfouf is sweet couscous, and in Tunisia it appears at pre-dawn meals in Ramadan, at breakfast and as a dessert. Fine couscous is steamed twice until light, tossed with butter and sugar, then mixed with chopped dates, raisins and nuts and scented with orange blossom water. It is served warm in a mound, often with a glass of cold milk beside it. Pomegranate seeds are a common garnish in season.
Instructions
- Put the couscous in a bowl with the oil and salt and rub the grains between your hands. Sprinkle with 120 ml (1/2 cup) of the warm water, rest for 10 minutes and break up any lumps.
- Set the couscous in a cloth-lined steamer or colander over a pot of boiling water, cover and steam for 15 minutes.
- Tip the couscous into the bowl, sprinkle with the remaining water and rake it with a fork. Steam again for 15 minutes, until the grains are tender and fluffy.
- While the couscous is hot, toss it with 40 g (3 tbsp) of the butter in pieces, the sugar, cinnamon and orange blossom water. Cover and leave for 5 minutes.
- Fold in the dates, raisins, almonds and pistachios. Taste and add more sugar if you like.
- Mound on a platter, dot with the remaining butter and scatter with pomegranate seeds. Serve warm, with cold milk on the side if you like.
Tips
- No steamer? Pour about 400 ml (1 2/3 cups) boiling water over the couscous with the butter, cover for 10 minutes and fluff. It will be a little heavier than steamed grains.
- Soak the raisins in warm water for 10 minutes first so they plump up. Walnuts or hazelnuts can replace the almonds or pistachios.
Questions and answers
Can I make mesfouf ahead of time?
Steam and season it up to 2 hours ahead and keep it covered. Left overnight it firms up, so fluff it with a splash of warm water or milk and warm it through.
Is mesfouf served hot or cold?
Usually warm, though it is also eaten at room temperature. Leftovers are often eaten cold with milk the next day.
Can I make mesfouf vegan?
Yes. Replace the butter with 3 tbsp of olive or neutral oil and skip the milk.
How long does it take to make Mesfouf (Tunisian Sweet Couscous with Dates and Nuts)?
About 55 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Mesfouf (Tunisian Sweet Couscous with Dates and Nuts)?
About 520 kcal per serving, with 11 g of protein, 80 g of carbohydrates and 18 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 520 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 11 g |
| Carbohydrates | 80 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 28 g |
| Sodium | 220 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
