ExploFood · Africa
What to eat in Algeria
Five dishes to try in Algeria, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Algeria
Couscous كسكس
Steamed semolina grains with a lamb or chicken and vegetable broth.
How to have it: The Friday family lunch; the Kabylie region serves versions with fresh herbs or beans.
Chakhchoukha شخشوخة
Torn pieces of flatbread soaked in a spicy lamb and chickpea tomato stew.
How to have it: A speciality of Biskra and the east, served at weddings and festive meals.
Chorba frik شوربة فريك
Tomato soup with cracked green wheat, lamb and herbs.
How to have it: The soup that breaks the fast every evening during Ramadan, with bourek pastries.
Karantika كرانتيكا
Baked chickpea-flour flan, cut into squares.
How to have it: Oran and Algiers street food, sold in a baguette with harissa and cumin.
Mahdjouba محجوبة
Folded semolina flatbread stuffed with a tomato and onion sauce.
How to have it: Cooked on griddles at street stalls and eaten hot as a snack or breakfast.
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Questions
What food is Algeria famous for?
Couscous (steamed semolina grains with a lamb or chicken and vegetable broth) comes first on our list, followed by Chakhchoukha, Chorba frik, Karantika and Mahdjouba.
What is the national dish of Algeria?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Algeria is Couscous: steamed semolina grains with a lamb or chicken and vegetable broth. The Friday family lunch; the Kabylie region serves versions with fresh herbs or beans.
Which dishes in Algeria are vegetarian?
Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Karantika and Mahdjouba. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Algeria?
Karantika (baked chickpea-flour flan, cut into squares) and Mahdjouba (folded semolina flatbread stuffed with a tomato and onion sauce).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Algeria
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.