Jelbana sauce — 340 g

Jelbana, or marqet jelbana, is one of the most common stews in Tunisian cooking: green peas simmered in a spiced tomato sauce, usually with meat or chicken. Yooness, the own brand of the Tunisian-food importer SODIC, sells it ready-cooked in a 340 g glass jar under the tagline « Faites comme chez vous ! ». The peas stay whole and visible in the sauce.

The consumer reheats the jar gently and serves it as it is with bread, or adds pieces of chicken, lamb or beef to turn it into a full meal. It also works as a quick base for pasta or rice. The jar is stored at room temperature and keeps in the fridge once opened.

Why list it

• An everyday family dish in Tunisia: a repeat purchase rather than an occasional one.
• Few equivalent references on shelf: jarred jelbana is rare outside specialist grocers.
• The 340 g format suits a meal for two to three people.
• A standby product that becomes a complete meal with nothing more than added meat.
• Consistent with the other Yooness sauces (laubia, mermez, macaroni) for a brand facing.

On the shelf

Place it with world ready meals or in the North African grocery section, alongside the other Yooness sauces and close to canned pulses and pasta, and cross-merchandise with traditional breads. Tip for the end customer: reheat gently, stir in already-cooked meat at the end and serve with bread, which does the work of a fork in Tunisia.