Garantita is one of the most famous dishes in Algeria. It is made in every home & is a very popular ‘fast food’. Traditionally, it is cooked until just firm around the edges, golden on top & nice and squishy in the middle (a BIT like souffle), then sliced (with difficulty!) & placed in a baguette with harissa. Chickpea flour is readily available in all Indian grocers (also known as Besan) or in Middle Eastern grocers. You can also make your own by grinding dry chick peas. This is our much requested family recipe……
This is my own family recipe for the traditional Algerian ‘Sables’ cookies. These sables are very easy to make & are a real favourite in our home. We like them with strawberry jam filling & icing sugar dusting or with apricot jam filing & dessicated coconut finish… but you can use any of your favourite preserves (if they have fruit pieces in you should sieve them before using. I have a special 4cm fluted sables cutter but you can use any cutters. I oftern use star cutters then punch out the small round centre by using a small metal bottle top (like on food colourings), or round cutter & using a small star, heart or flower cutter for the centre. These sables freeze nicely in layers separated by parchment or waxed paper in an airtight container. Allow to defrost in a single layer then dust the tops & fill with jam.
‘Zrodiya Mcharmla’ also known as ‘Carottes au vinaigre’ is a very famous carrot dish in Algeria. This is actually delicious & isn’t hard to make…beautiful with roast chicken! For a change to the carrots, you can also use courgette / zucchini or potato in its place.
From the The Great Book of Couscous by Copeland Marks. Algerian comfort food. Use as a side dish or a main dish with a nice salad.
This recipe was initially posted in response to a round the world game. Not only did it sound good but once I got around to trying it myself, it WAS good! I’m not usually a cucumber person but I really like this recipe.
