ExploFood · Africa
What to eat in Libya
Five dishes to try in Libya, the most typical first. One is vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Libya
Bazeen بازين
Dome of barley dough served in a spicy tomato stew with lamb, potatoes and eggs.
How to have it: A shared family dish eaten by hand from the central dough; common at weekends and holidays.
Couscous كسكسي
Steamed semolina with lamb, chickpeas, pumpkin and a spiced sauce.
How to have it: Often the Friday lunch; Libyan versions add caramelised onions and raisins (busla).
Sharba libiya شربة ليبية
Tomato soup with lamb, orzo-like pasta, chickpeas, mint and lemon.
How to have it: The dish that breaks the fast every evening of Ramadan.
Usban عصبان
Sheep tripe stuffed with rice, herbs, meat and liver, steamed or boiled.
How to have it: Made for Eid al-Adha and family occasions; served with couscous or rice.
Asida عصيدة
Thick wheat flour dough served with date syrup and melted butter.
How to have it: Made for Mawlid and to welcome a newborn; eaten by hand from a shared plate.
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Questions
What food is Libya famous for?
Bazeen (dome of barley dough served in a spicy tomato stew with lamb, potatoes and eggs) comes first on our list, followed by Couscous, Sharba libiya, Usban and Asida.
What is the national dish of Libya?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Libya is Bazeen: dome of barley dough served in a spicy tomato stew with lamb, potatoes and eggs. A shared family dish eaten by hand from the central dough; common at weekends and holidays.
Which dishes in Libya are vegetarian?
One of the five on this page is vegetarian as usually made: Asida. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish 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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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.