Omek Houria (Tunisian Spiced Carrot Salad)
Local name: أمك حورية
In short: Carrots boiled until soft, then mashed with garlic, caraway, cumin, harissa, vinegar and olive oil into a warm, spicy Tunisian salad. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 165 kcal
Omek houria is a spicy mashed carrot salad that Tunisian cooks serve warm or cold as part of a spread of starters. The carrots are boiled until very soft, drained well and mashed coarsely, then dressed with garlic, caraway, cumin, harissa, vinegar and olive oil. It tastes sweet, sharp and garlicky at once. It keeps for days, which makes it useful for parties and picnics.
Instructions
- Boil the carrots in lightly salted water for 15 to 18 minutes until very soft. Drain well and leave them in the colander for 2 minutes to steam dry.
- Return the carrots to the pot and mash them coarsely with a fork or potato masher. Leave some texture.
- Mix the garlic, caraway, cumin, harissa, vinegar, salt and 2 tbsp of the oil in a small bowl. Stir the mixture into the warm carrots.
- Taste and adjust the vinegar, harissa and salt. The salad should be sharp, garlicky and slightly hot.
- Spoon into a shallow dish, drizzle with the remaining oil and top with parsley and olives. Serve warm or at room temperature with bread.
Tips
- Drain the carrots very thoroughly. Extra water makes the salad bland and loose, and a minute in the hot pot after draining dries them further.
- Add the dressing while the carrots are still warm so they absorb the garlic and spices. The salad tastes better after a few hours in the fridge.
Questions and answers
How long does omek houria keep?
Up to 5 days in a covered container in the fridge. The flavor improves after the first day.
Can I serve it as a dip?
Yes. Mash it a little finer and serve it with warm bread, or spread it inside a sandwich.
Is it very spicy?
It is mildly hot with 1 tsp of harissa. Use up to 2 tsp for a proper Tunisian kick, or leave it out and add a pinch of paprika instead.
How long does it take to make Omek Houria (Tunisian Spiced Carrot Salad)?
About 30 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Omek Houria (Tunisian Spiced Carrot Salad)?
About 165 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 15 g of carbohydrates and 11 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 165 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 15 g |
| Fat | 11 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 7 g |
| Sodium | 430 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
