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Makloub Recipe – Tunisian Stuffed Flatbread Sandwich
Traditional Tunisian Makloub with Chicken, Harissa & Melted Cheese
Makloub is one of Tunisia’s most popular modern street foods — a hot grilled sandwich stuffed with spicy meat, vegetables, cheese, and harissa folded inside soft flatbread.
Crisp on the outside and rich inside, makloub combines North African flavors with influences from Mediterranean grilled sandwiches and panini culture. The bread becomes golden and toasted while the cheese melts into the seasoned meat and vegetables.
Served from street-food shops, cafés, and late-night takeaway counters across Tunisia, makloub is filling, spicy, cheesy, and deeply satisfying.
What Is It?
Makloub is a Tunisian grilled flatbread sandwich traditionally made with mlewi, tabouna, or pita-style bread stuffed with meat, vegetables, harissa, and cheese.
The sandwich is folded or sealed before being grilled until crisp outside and melted inside.
Chicken and merguez sausage are among the most common fillings, though tuna, turkey, kebab meat, and mixed vegetables are also popular.
A Little History
Makloub became widely popular in Tunisia during the rise of modern sandwich shops and fast-casual street food culture.
While rooted in traditional Tunisian flavors like harissa and flatbread, the sandwich also reflects Mediterranean and European influences through melted cheese and pressed grilling techniques.
Today, makloub is especially popular as quick street food, evening takeaway, and casual comfort food throughout Tunisia.
What You Need
Filling
- Chicken breast or merguez sausage
- Onion
- Bell pepper
- Tomato
- Potato
- Harissa
- Grated cheese
- Fresh parsle
Bread
- Flatbread (mlewi, tabouna, or pita-style)
Seasoning
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Cumin
- Paprika
The Process
The filling is first cooked in a pan until the meat is fully seasoned and the vegetables soften slightly.
Harissa is spread directly onto the bread before layering the potatoes, tomatoes, cooked filling, herbs, and cheese. The sandwich is then folded and grilled until the exterior becomes crisp and golden while the cheese melts through the filling.
The result is rich, spicy, cheesy, and packed with texture.
Serving
Makloub is best served fresh off the grill while still hot and crispy.
Serve with extra harissa, olives, fries, or salad on the side for a traditional Tunisian takeaway-style meal.
Storing
The cooked filling can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days before assembling and grilling fresh sandwiches.
Makloub
Ingredients
- 2 large flatbreads mlewi, tabouna, or pita-style
- 250 g chicken breast or merguez sausage sliced or crumbled
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 1 bell pepper sliced
- 1 tomato sliced
- 1 small potato boiled and sliced (optional, authentic addition)
- 1–2 tbsp harissa to taste
- 100 g grated cheese Gruyère, Emmental, or mozzarella
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt pepper, cumin, paprika (to season meat)
- Fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Cook the filling: Heat olive oil in a pan, add the meat, onion, and bell pepper. Season with salt, pepper, cumin, and paprika. Cook until meat is done and vegetables are soft.
- Prepare the bread: Spread harissa inside the flatbread. Add slices of potato and tomato.
- Assemble: Pile on the cooked meat and vegetables, sprinkle with cheese, and add parsley. Fold or cover with another flatbread.
- Grill: Place in a hot skillet, panini press, or grill pan. Cook for 3–4 minutes per side until the bread is crisp and the cheese melts.
- Serve: Slice in halves or quarters and serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
Product We Use
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