๐ŸŒฟ Share this page

The African Gourmet

The African Gourmet: Explore African Culture & Recipes

One bowl of fufu can explain a war. One proverb can outsmart a drought.
Welcome to the real Africa—told through food, memory, and truth.

Christmas & New Year in Africa

FOOD PROVERBS

Love Empanadas, Then Make Brik Tunisian Pastries

Love empanadas then you will love Brik Tunisian Pastries.

If you have reservations about trying African food, rest assured that the Brik recipe and Empanadas share striking similarities in their recipes, making them an excellent gateway into the diverse and flavorful realm of African cuisine. If you're already a fan of empanadas, you'll undoubtedly find the Brik equally enticing and delightful. 


Brik Tunisian Pastries

Both brik and empanadas offer a delicious handheld pastry with a flavorful filling, making them a convenient and tasty food. These delectable pastries showcase the best of African flavors and culinary techniques, offering a fusion of textures and tastes that are sure to please your palate. 


So, if you're seeking a new culinary adventure or simply want to expand your repertoire, embracing the Brik recipe is an ideal way to discover the wonders of African cuisine while enjoying a familiar and beloved treat like empanadas. 

Brik and Empanadas are two delicious savory pastries, while they come from different regions of the world, they are both pastry shells stuffed with delicious fillings. 


Similarities between Brik and Empanadas.


Both Brik and Empanadas are savory pastries with a crispy exterior and a flavorful filling.


The pastries are made from a thin, folded dough. The fillings can vary widely, including ingredients such as meat, vegetables, cheese, and spices. 


These recipes provide a basic starting point for making Brik and Empanadas, but feel free to experiment with different fillings and seasonings to suit your taste. 


Brik Tunisian Pastries


A history and comparison of Tunisian Brik pastries and Empanadas, along with recipe ideas.


History and recipe for Tunisian Brik pastries.


Brik, also spelled Brick or Bourek, is a traditional Tunisian dish. It consists of a thin pastry shell filled with meat, vegetable, spices, and just about any other ingredients folded into a triangular shaped dough. The pastry is made from thin layers of dough giving it a crispy texture when fried or baked.


The filling of a Brik can vary, but it often includes ingredients such as eggs, tuna, capers, parsley, and sometimes potatoes. The pastry is then sealed, often with a beaten egg, and deep-fried until golden and crispy. Brik is commonly served as an appetizer or snack.


Brik Recipe.

Ingredients:

8 sheets of phyllo dough

2 eggs

1 can of tuna, drained

2 tablespoons of capers

2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

Vegetable oil for frying


Directions:

In a bowl, combine the tuna, capers, parsley, and one beaten egg. Season with salt and pepper.


Lay one sheet of phyllo dough on a clean surface and brush it lightly with beaten egg.

Place another sheet of phyllo dough on top, slightly offset from the previous one, and brush it with beaten egg as well.


Spoon a portion of the tuna filling onto the center of the dough. Fold the sides of the dough over the filling, forming a triangle shape.


Brush the folded edges with beaten egg to seal the brik. Repeat the process with the remaining phyllo sheets and filling.


Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Fry the briks until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side.


Remove the briks from the pan and drain them on paper towels. Serve hot as an appetizer or snack.


Brik Tunisian Pastries


Empanadas history and recipe.


Empanadas have a long history in the United States and are popular in many Latin American households as well as in Spain and Portugal. 


These pastries consist of a dough shell filled with a variety of ingredients, such as meat, cheese, vegetables, or sweet fillings. Empanadas can be baked or fried just like Brik.


The fillings of empanadas differ based on regional culinary traditions. For example, in The United States, beef, onions, and spices are commonly used, while in Spain, they may be filled with seafood or vegetables. Just like Brik, Empanadas can be enjoyed as a main course, appetizer, or snack.


Empanadas Recipe.

Ingredients:

For the dough:

3 cups of all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon of salt

½ cup of unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

1 egg

½ cup of cold water

For the filling:

1 pound of ground beef

1 onion, finely chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 teaspoon of cumin

1 teaspoon of paprika

Salt and pepper to taste

½ cup of pitted green olives, sliced

¼ cup of raisins

2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped


Directions:

In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt together. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.


In a small bowl, beat the egg and water together. Gradually add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, stirring until the dough comes together.


Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.


In a skillet, cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until the beef is browned and the onion is softened.


Add the cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper to the skillet and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Stir in the olives, raisins, and chopped hard-boiled eggs. Remove the filling from the heat and let it cool.


Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).


Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut it into circles using a round cookie cutter or a glass.


Spoon a portion of the filling onto one half of each dough circle, leaving a small border around the edges.


Fold the dough over the filling to form a half-moon shape. Press the edges together to seal the empanadas.


Place the empanadas on a baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.


Serve the empanadas warm as an appetizer, snack or main course.


Brik Tunisian Pastries

Do you love Empanadas? Well then give our Brik Tunisian Recipe a try.

Brik and empanadas are both wildly popular savory pastries. Brik originated in Tunisia and is popular in North Africa and the Middle East. It features a thin, crispy pastry shell filled with ingredients like eggs, tuna, and capers, and is often deep-fried depending on the region and the cook making the recipe.


Empanadas are widely enjoyed in The United States of America, Latin America, Spain, and Portugal. They consist of a dough shell filled with various ingredients such as meat, cheese, or vegetables, and can be baked or fried.


Both Brik and Empanadas share similarities in terms of their folded dough shells and versatile fillings. They can be enjoyed as appetizers, snacks, or even main courses. 


If you're hesitant about trying African food, let me assure you that the Brik recipe and Empanadas have very similar recipes and offer a wonderful introduction to the diverse and flavorful world of African cuisine. If you love empanadas you will love Brik.


While they may have different origins, both dishes share common elements that make Brik absolutely worth trying. The crispy pastry shells, filled with a combination of delicious ingredients, create a delightful culinary experience that transcends cultural boundaries. 


By exploring Brik recipes, you'll get a taste of the vibrant flavors, aromatic spices, and unique combinations that are emblematic of African cuisine. 


So, set aside any reservations and embark on a culinary adventure that will not only expand your palate but also open your eyes to the rich and diverse tapestry of African flavors. Don't miss the opportunity to savor Brik mouthwatering delights and discover the deliciousness that African food has to offer.

African Recipes Organized by Meal Time

African Drinks & Beverages

Snacks & Appetizers

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Desserts

Photo of Ivy, author of The African Gourmet

About the Author

A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories is currently selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage.

Trusted by: WikipediaEmory University African StudiesUniversity of KansasUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalMDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

View citations →

Recipes as Revolution

Recipes as Revolution

When food becomes protest and meals carry political meaning

Loading revolutionary recipes...
African woman farmer

She Feeds Africa

Before sunrise, after sunset, seven days a week — she grows the food that keeps the continent alive.

60–80 % of Africa’s calories come from her hands.
Yet the land, the credit, and the recognition still belong to someone else.

Read her story →

To every mother of millet and miracles —
thank you.

More African Reads

African Ancestors and Atlantic Hurricanes: Myth Meets Meteorology

Survival of the Fattest, obese Europeans starving Africa

Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa by Land Area (2025 Update)

African Proverbs for Men About the Wrong Woman in Their Life

Ugali vs Fufu — What’s the Difference Between Africa’s Beloved Staples?

Charging Cell Phones in Rural Africa

Beware of the naked man who offers you clothes African Proverb

African Olympic Power: Top 10 Countries with the Most Gold Medals | The African Gourmet

Perfect South African Apricot Beef Curry Recipe

Usage of Amen and Ashe or Ase and Meaning

Week’s Best African Culture Posts

Before You Buy Land in Africa: 8 Critical Pitfalls Every Diaspora Member Must Avoid

Aloe Vera: Nature's Pharmacy | African Science & Folklore

Imhotep: Folklore, Wisdom & The Egyptian Search for Order

Kei Apple Recipes: Traditional African Fruit Cooking & Folk Science

African Wrestling Traditions: Dambe, Evala & Senegalese Laamb Explained

Korean vs African Cuisine: Fermentation, Fire & Flavor Bridges - The African Gourmet

African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.