Monday, April 9, 2012

Algerian Gastronomy

Algerian cuisine like all other regional cooking can best be described as the culmination of its geographical location, religious and ethnic background, and its rich history. The ethnic and geographical make-up of the country makes Algerian food a hybridization of both Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Also, due to the homogeneous nature of Algeria, the national cuisine is heavily inspired by Arab-Berber influences. This influence can be seen in the use of dried fruits, stews, and lamb. Among the Arab-Berber foods, Turkish (Ottoman) and French influences can also be seen through pastries and spices.

Moroccan Chickpea & Couscous Salad
The national dish of Algeria is couscous, a regional favorite. Couscous is a popular dish in the Maghreb, and is made from semolina, which is a coarse grain extracted from wheat. The staple is usually served with lamb or chicken, and other vegetables, such as chickpeas and red peppers. Common dishes also include Mechoui, a roasted lamb dish, Merquez, a spicy lamb sausage dish, and Chorba, a spicy lamb or chicken stew mixed with vegetables.

Mechoui
Merquez
Chorba Djej


How to make Boureak (Algerian Spring Rolls)






Sources


Cuisine of Algeria: http://www.algeria.com/cuisine/

Algeria: http://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Algeria.html#b

Cuisine Algerienne: http://mybookofrai.typepad.com/cuisinealgerienne/

Moroccan Chickpea & Couscous Salad: http://www.jeremiahfletcher.com/images/thumbs/recipes/recipe_664.jpg

Mechoui: http://notrecuisinefacile.free.fr/mechoui.jpg

Merquez: http://hagesued.eu/cms/upload/rezepte/bratwurst/bratwurst_merquez_1.jpg

Chorba Djej: http://www.chefzadi.com/images/2007/06/08/p1010016.jpg



How to make Boureak (Algerian Spring Rolls): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVHtgM4SH-Q


1 comment:

  1. I really like that there is a sense of interaction in your blog. Also, it's important that people have a sense of the cuisine thus, the pictures are a great addition. You did something I didn't think about before. You added a video on how to make the dish that you presented. That allows for people to continue coming to your blog because they would want to learn how to make it. I would have liked to learn more about the other types of cuisine in Algeria. Moreover, what do you mean by the homogenous nature of Algeria? Does that mean that in the country there is no diversity in its people?

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