Lham (lit. meat) lahlou (lit. sweet) is an Algerian dish consisting of pieces of lamb stewed in a sweet syrup with fruit and various spices such as cinnamon and star anise. The dish often employs fruits such as prunes, quince, apples, pears, apricot, and raisins.
It is typically reserved for Ramadan, when the dish is used to break the fast. Because it is full of sugar, lham lahlou is excellent for keeping the energy levels up for nightly prayers.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Chakhchoukha is a flavorful Algerian stew consisting of torn pieces of a thin, round flatbread known as rougag, and marqa – a stew made with diced lamb, tomatoes, chickpeas, onions, and flavorings such as cumin, ras el hanout, caraway, galangal, lavender, and red chili peppers.
The dish is especially popular at celebrations and festivities. It is believed that the dish was invented by shepherds who needed a hearty meal when they came home on cold nights. The name of the dish can be roughly translated to torn flatbread, referring to the key ingredient of chakhchoukha.
MOST ICONIC Chakhchoukha
Tajine zitoune is a traditional dish made with a combination of chicken pieces, olives, onions, carrots, mushrooms, thyme, bay leaves, lemon juice, and saffron or turmeric. The olives are blanched and dried, while at the same time, the chicken is browned with onions and spices.
The meat is cooked in water with vegetables, mushrooms, and olives, and the combination is simmered until tender. Near the end of cooking, flour and lemon juice are mixed in and poured over the chicken. The dish is usually cooked in a tagine, and it is recommended to garnish it with cilantro and serve it hot with saffron rice on the side.
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