Helouwa Ta’aba are very traditional, lovely simple cookies from Algeria. They should be quite hard, but if you prefer them a little softer then take them out of the oven at 20 minutes. There are 2 versions of this recipe, one flavoured with lemon & the other is plain but topped with sesame seeds. Both versions are below. This particluar recipe is our family recipe & is DH’s all time favourite helouwa as it is not too sweet (so he can eat more lol!)
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!
This dish is traditionally cooked in Algeria for eating during Ramadan and on special ocassions. It is hardly ever eaten as a main course, but as a small dish after the main. This recipe freezes well. In my family, it’s only my husband that eats it so I freeze individual portions for him. I tend to play around with the recipe and change the fruit around and add a little extra liquid. This is just one of hundreds of variations of this recipe, I will post a few alternatives later.
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!
If you’re looking for a chocolate cookie with a real kick, look no further. These cookies are a perfect marriage of chocolate and spicy. They are firm, but chewy-melt-in-your-mouth. For comparison, I lean toward “medium” heat when it comes to salsa. This recipe is adapted from an excellent food blog called Baking Bites.
