Quantifying culinary diversity across countries.

Algerian food: discover traditional cuisine

About country

Culinary influences

Staple ingredients

Key flavorings

Iconic dishes

In the north of the African continent, the Maghrebi region, stretches Algeria, the largest country in Africa. In the south of its territory lies the Sahara, the largest desert in the world, while in the north, you can find the most important Roman Empire ruins after Italy. Algeria’s history traces its roots to the Berbers, Carthaginians, Ottomans, Arabs, and French. Having gained independence in 1962, it is now a country known for its Islamic culture and significant energy resources, particularly natural gas and oil. The country faces challenges related to economic diversification, political stability, and social development. Yet, while these challenges exist, the country also has significant natural resources, strategic location, and human capital.

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Source: Country Food Similarity Index https://objectivelists.com/country-food-similarity-index/

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The average Algerian daily plate size is

2255 g.
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Grains

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Fish and seafood

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Produce

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Eggs and dairy

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Meats

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Sugar, fats and nuts

Core ingredients

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Herbs

PARSLEY

MINT

CILANTRO

THYME

BAY LEAVES

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Spices

CUMIN

CORIANDER

BLACK PEPPER

CINNAMON

CARAWAY

PAPRIKA

DRY CHILI

TURMERIC DRY

GINGER

SAFFRON

ANISEED

NIGELA SEED

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Aromatics

GARLIC

ONION

BELL PEPPERS

CHILI PEPPERS

LEMON

ORANGE WATER

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Condiments

OLIVE OIL

TOMATO PASTE

PEPPER PASTE

DATES

FERMENTED BUTTER

CLARIFIED BUTTER

PRESERVED LEMONS

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Grains

Couscous

COUSCOUS – semolina grains steamed over a broth, topped with cumin, coriander, and turmeric-flavored vegetables and legumes, dried fruits, and meat, served on a large platter for a communal meal.

Berkoukes Indif, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

BERKOUKES – hand-rolled semolina pasta, chicken, beef, or mutton and vegetable dish, thicker than soup but lighter than stew. The flavor differs across regions.

Mhajeb Slothtysloth, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

MHAJEB – a delicate crepe-like semolina-based flatbread stuffed with a mixture of onion, garlic, tomato, peppers, and spices.

Baghrir

BAGHRIR – fluffy and light North African pancake, eaten with honey, butter, or syrup for breakfast.

Rechta Slothtysloth, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

RECHTA – semolina pasta cut into thin artisan strips, a symbolic dish of Algeria. Often served with either tomato-based or flour and oil-based sauce.

Tlitli Slothtysloth, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

TLITLI – is a traditional grain-shaped pasta, similar to rechta in toppings, cooked in spicy sauce. Sometimes referred to as bird tongue pasta.

Chakhchoukha

CHAKHCHOUKHA – a celebratory dish made from torn semolina dough in a tomato-based sauce made from cooked onions, garlic, tomatoes, cumin, paprika, and harissa. The semolina dough is then added and simmered until it has absorbed the flavors. This dish is often served with lamb or beef, cooked separately, and then added on top of dough along with chickpeas, carrots, or turnips.

Zviti Terrafkamal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

ZVITI – is a soup made from broken down bread, when peace are added to a hot mixture of tomatoes and garlic. Flavoured with chili peppers, ras el hanout, coriander, olive oil and sometimes green olives.

Brik

BRIK (BURAK) – North African version of Borek, deep-fried thin pastry stuffed with ground meat, eggs, onion, tuna, harissa, and parsley.

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Produce

Harira

HARIRA – is a fragrant, creamy tomato and chickpea soup served during Ramadan. The Algerian version differs from the Moroccan version in that it does not contain lentils.

Karantika

KARANTIKA or GARANTITA – is an iconic street food: chickpea pie or flan, made from chickpea batter topped with beaten egg and baked, served with harissa and cumin.

Loubia Ovva olfa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

LOUBIA—white bean stew, simmered with lamb or beef for flavor, could be considered the Algerian version of the French cassoulet.

Maaqouda Jeouit, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

MAAQOUDA – potato fritters; served plain or stuffed with meat, tuna, or cheese, served with harissa, coriander, and lemon juice.

Dobara Slothtysloth, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

DOBARA – spicy vegetarian soup prepared with chickpeas and broad beans and drizzled with olive oil.

Algerian Salad

ALGERIAN SALAD – tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and olives, sometimes featuring anchovy filets and hard-boiled eggs.

Zaalouka

ZAALOUKA – ratatouille of eggplants and tomatoes mainly, served hot or cold.

Dolma

DOLMA – vegetables stuffed with filling. Algeria’s usual choice for stuffing is zucchini, vine leaves, and potatoes.

Hmiss Slothtysloth, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

HMISS – is a salad or condiment made from grilled peppers and tomatoes, chopped, mixed, and seasoned with olive oil and sometimes garlic.

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Meats

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Fish and seafood

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Eggs and dairy

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Sugar, fats and nuts

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