Tabil-Tunisian Spice Mix

Posted for the Zaar World Tour-Africa! Tabil is said to have been brought to Tunisia in 1492. Tabil(pronounced table) means seasoning in Tunisian. In Africa, tabil is pounded in a mortar and then dried in the sun and is often used in cooking beef or veal.

• Ready In: 10 mins
• Yields: 1/4 cup

Ingredients

• 2  large garlic cloves, peeled, chopped and dried in the open air for 2 days (or 2 teaspoons garlic powder)
• 1⁄4 cup  coriander seed
• 1  tablespoon caraway seed
• 2  teaspoons cayenne pepper

Directions

1. In a mortar, pound the garlic with the coriander, caraway, and cayenne until it is smooth. Store in the refrigerator or freezer. Keep in the refrigerator if using fresh garlic for up to two months or indefinitely if using powdered garlic, although the pungency will decline as time goes by.
2. Makes about 1/4 cup.