Cookbook:Cuisine of Algeria

| African Cuisines

Algerian cuisine is a Mediterranean and North African cuisine with Berber roots, known for its diverse variety of dishes thanks to the various interactions Algeria went through throughout the centuries. In addition to that, Algeria's large and diverse territory is able to provide both land and sea products.

Influences
The cuisine of Algeria has a mix of Berber, Arab, Turkish, Andalusian, French, and Spanish influences. The Berber population in the region's early history introduced wheat and fruit cultivation. They developed couscous, which has become the national dish and staple item, and they also influenced Algerian stews and tagines. Muslim Arab invaders around 600 AD introduced a variety of flavorings from the East, such as saffron, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and orange flower water. Turkish and Ottoman influences on Algerian cuisine include a variety of pastries, fruits, nuts, and flavorings. The French occupation of Algeria in the 19th century introduced new culinary features, especially in terms of bread and a variety of pastries. They also introduced a variety of foods originally from the Americas.

Sauces
A variety of sauces are used in Algerian cuisine. These include:


 * Marqa beida (derdja): white sauce made with butter or oil, seasoned with onion, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, saffron, and/or turmeric
 * M'hammer (roasting sauce): butter-based sauce with onion, cinnamon, and saffron
 * Dersa (red sauce): red pepper sauce, containing black pepper and cinnamon
 * Marqa b'tomatich: tomato-based sauce containing onions, garlic, black pepper, cumin, and other flavorings
 * Chermoula: acidic sauce often used for marinating meats
 * Marqa helou: sweet butter-based sauce including cinnamon, saffron, and honey

Couscous
Couscous is a staple food and national dish in Algeria, originating with the original Berber population. It is technically a type of pasta, made of a semolina dough crumbled into small grains and cooked until fluffy. It's traditionally steamed in a taseksut (also called kaskas or couscoussier) and can be served savory or sweet.

Bread
Algerian breads are eaten at most meals, where they are often used to scoop and soak up foods. They can include the following types:
 * Khubz ad-dâr ("bread of the house"): round, yeasted wheat flatbread, baked in an oven
 * Matlû or khubz at-tajîn: yeasted flatbread made of semolina, barley, sorghum, and/or corn; cooked on a heated surface like a hot plate
 * Raqâq, rfîs, khubz-ftir, or tarîd: very thin, unleavened flatbreads, cooked on sheet of hot metal; often stuffed, can be sweet or savory
 * French bread (pain): white, leavened, crusty french bread

Sweets
Algerian sweets include a variety of pastries that have been influenced by Arab, Ottoman, and Turkish cuisines:


 * Ketaef or kadayif: pastry similar to konafa and other such pastries across the Middle East; consists of almond paste filling surrounded by a shredded semolina dough
 * Madeleine aux amandes: molded cakes with an almond filling similar to frangipane
 * Tamina: semolina cake with honey, cinnamon, and orange flower water
 * Baqlawa: Algerian version of baklava; layered pastry filled with pistachios, almonds, and walnuts, and a perfumed syrup
 * Samsa: fried triangular pastry filled with nuts and honey

Beverages
Coffee in Algeria is typically served strong. Tea is very popular and is often served with mint. Fruit juices are also widely consumed, as well as fruit/nut-flavored drinks called sharbats. Both goat and cow milk are available, and they are used to make the drink sahlab

Vegetables
Eggplant, tomato, zucchini

Fruit and nuts
Dates, almonds, olives

Meat
Mutton/lamb, beef

Grains
Rice, wheat

Seasonings
Cinnamon, cumin, mint, marjoram, caraway, coriander, black pepper, chili pepper, ras el hanout, harrissa, baharat

Customs
Due to the high prevalence of Islam, Algerian cooking is almost always halal. Food is often eaten with three fingers of the right hand. Hospitality is widespread, and sharing of food and drink is common.

Dishes

 * Algerian Couscous
 * Rechta
 * Chakhchoukha
 * Shakshouka
 * Lham Lhalou
 * Tajine Zitoune
 * Chorba
 * Harira
 * Mechoui

Side dishes

 * Maakouda
 * Bourek

Street food

 * Mahdjouba
 * Garantita

Breads

 * Kesra/Agrouhm (كسرة)
 * Msemmen (مسمن)
 * Matlouh (المطلوع)
 * Khobz el Dar (خبز الدار)
 * Mbesses
 * Taguella
 * Chrik
 * Tamtunt
 * Lamouna
 * Mtabga

Desserts

 * Tamina (الطمينة)
 * Sfenj (السفنج)
 * Baghrir (البغرير)
 * Heart of Almonds (قلب اللوز)
 * Mouskoutchou
 * Tachrek
 * Makrout

Beverages

 * Orange Blossom Cherbet (شربات ماء زهر)
 * Algerian Lemonade (شربات القارص)
 * Algerian Mint Tea (أتاي جزائري)
 * Mazagran (مزغران)
 * Anise Syrup (حبة حلاوة)
 * Sahara Date Milk (حليب التمر)
 * Cherbet Meliana (شربات مليانة)
 * Lekhchef (الخشاف)
 * Verbena Remedy Tea (شاي ماء لويزة)
 * Kahwa Zazwa
 * Ouazouaza (الوازوازة)
 * El Bared (البارد)
 * Maâjoun el Heroor (معجون الحرور)
 * Mocha with Goat Milk
 * Takerouayet