Les Moulins Mahjoub M'hamsa Sundried Couscous from Tunisia

Ingredients: semolina, water, extra virgin olive oil, salt

Size: 500 grams

Packed in: Glass jar

Location: Hand made in Tunisia

About Les Moulins Mahjoub

The Mahjoub family farms the soil in the lush Mejerda Valley of Tunisia located on the southern shores of the Mediterranean. It is here that they produce handcrafted products under the Les Moulins Mahjoub label and are known for their steadfast commitment to artisan standards and sustainable farming. The Mahjoubs are recognized in the culinary world as one of the premier producers of extra virgin olive oils, table olives, and condiments.

Couscous, dating back over a thousand years, was produced by the Berbers of the Maghreb, a high mountainous region, stretching from the Atlas Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea and covering parts of modern day Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria. The Berbers, living in the mountains, descended to the valleys to gather wheat and preserve it. Over generations, the Berbers learned that by grinding the wheat and making couscous they could preserve wheat for years, protecting them from seasonal hazards such as drought.

Today, Les Moulins Mahjoub produces their m’hamsa couscous in the original method, as the Berbers of Tebourba once did, in large grains. Hand rolling semolina flour with olive oil, water and salt on screens, letting the small grains fall through, then adding flour and rolling again until a consistent grain is formed. The couscous grains are coated by two ancient products that Berbers have: olive oil and salt. The couscous is then sun-dried, giving it a rich, full, toasty flavor when cooked.

Pair with whole roasted fish or make a salad with calamari, heirloom tomatoes, lemon and fresh herbs.