Although it is believed to have its origins in Persia, zulbia or jalebi is an international dessert with variations that spread throughout the Middle East, India, and Asia. In its basic form, this sweet dessert is created by combining flour with yogurt or ghee, as well as baking soda or yeast to create a batter which is then poured in circular patterns directly into the sizzling oil.
The final result is a crispy treat that is then doused in a thick syrup, which can be flavored with rosewater, saffron, honey, orange blossom water, or cardamom. In both Iran and India, zulbia is served on special occasions, and it is usually sprinkled with chopped pistachios or saffron threads.
Kalb-el-louz is a popular Algerian baked dessert consisting of semolina and ground almonds as key ingredients. It's typically flavored with cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, and orange blossom water. After it has been cooked, kalb-el-louz is combined with a fragrant syrup that makes it sweet.
In the west of Algeria, it is also known as chamia, while in the east, it is known as h'rissa. This dessert is especially popular during the month of Ramadan, when it is traditionally paired with a cup of coffee.
MOST ICONIC Kalb-el-louz
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Créponné is a traditional lemon sorbet, created by Gilbert Soriano of the Crèmerie l'Oranaise in Oran. It is made by mixing lemon zest and juice with boiling sugar syrup, leaving it to rest in the freezer for a couple of hours, and then mixing it again with whipped egg whites.
The concoction is left in the freezer until the next day, although it is advisable to pull it out every half an hour for the first few hours of freezing to beat the mixture with the whisk until the sorbet sets. Créponné is a dessert usually made at home, but numerous street vendors and ice cream shops in Oran offer it during hot summer days.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “3 Worst Rated Algerian Desserts” list until February 15, 2025, 1,880 ratings were recorded, of which 348 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.