M'hajeb are infamous in Algeria & Morocco - where they are also known as M'semmen. They are a fine pastry made of semolina & filled with a delicious mix of tomato, onion & sometimes peppers. M'hajeb keep well in the freezer when individually wrapped & any leftover pastry makes a lovely breakfast when served with honey. M'hajeb are very popular all year round but they are frantically devoured during Ramadan!
I love this soup! During Ramadan we have it at least twice a week as everyone likes it - even my little children! I think key to this being so delicious is the preserved lemon....it really adds so much to it. I also cook this in the pressure cooker: seal chicken add all ingredients except coriander / cilantro & lemon juice. Cook on medium/high for 45 minutes. Add remaining ingredients & simmer with lid off for 1 min. Re-season & serve. This soup freezes really well, bag into portions & freeze. De-frost, re-heat, add a little more cilantro, lemon juice & ras el hanout & it's as good as before!
This is a classic Algerian 'salad' dish. You can either grill the tomatoes & peppers over an open flame, deep fry them or roast them. My family loves this recipe & we always mop it up with fresh bread! You can also serve this as part of a mezze selection. The vinegar is of course optional but it acts as a flavour enhancer so I do recommend at least trying a little of the salad with a few drops of vinegar on!
Tamina is a very old Algerian recipe. Traditionally it is served to celebrate the birth of a baby, however many people eat it whenever they get the craving for something seriously sweet! It is most commonly served in small plates & people each have a small spoon with which to eat it, you can of course, serve individual portions. Algerian children go crazy for this so don't forget a plate for them!
There are many, many versions of Basboussa ( and many spelling variations!) throughout the Arab world. Some of these are a spongy cake-like texture & some are more of a grainy texture. This Algerian version is more of a cake-like texture - which happens to be my favourite. I absolutely love the addition of coconut in the recipe, it really adds something to the Basboussa. This recipe is extremely simple to make & is delicious served with coffee or tea. It is definitely a Ramadan staple in our home!