North African Cuisine Guides

Curious about the cuisines of North Africa? Read our guides and essays to deepen your knowledge of North African food history, cooking techniques, ingredients, and more.

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How to Make Harissa From Dried or Fresh Chilies

A collection of ingredients used in Moroccan cooking, including preserved lemon, rose water, cinnamon, saffron, Ras el Hanout, harissa, and a sheet of warqa pastry

How to Stock a Moroccan Pantry: Harissa, Ras el Hanout, and More

Cairo Graphic

Come For the Pyramids, Stay for the Food: A Local’s Guide to Eating in Cairo, a Culinary Paradise

Overhead view of koshari in bowl

Koshari (Egyptian Lentils, Rice, and Pasta)

Plated dish featuring layered rice chicken and nuts with garnish

Sharkaseya (Egyptian-Style Circassian Chicken)

Molokhia soup in a bowl with pickled red onions.

Molokhia (Egyptian Jute Mallow Soup)

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A slice of dessert on a plate accompanied by walnuts and a spoon

Kar' assali (Egyptian Baked Pumpkin Dessert)

Beef shawarma wrap with accompaniments including pickles tahini sauce and pita bread on a table

Dish of baked savory slices flatbread pickles and glasses of tea served on a table

Egga (Egyptian Baked Egg Dish)

A baked pasta casserole in a glass dish with a portion served on a plate beside it

Macarona Forn (Egyptian Baked Pasta Dish)

Egyptian Bissara

Egyptian Bissara (Split Fava Bean Dip)

Marrakesh

Souk to Nuts: How to Eat Like a Local in Marrakesh

A plate with a serving of eggbased casserole side salad and slices of bread

Kalinti (Crispy North African Chickpea Flour Pie) With Herb Salad

Sliced steak topped with green chermoula served with chickpea salad on the side

Seared Steak with Green Chermoula and Chickpea Salad

Cooked chermoula sardines arranged on a decorative plate with a garnish

Grilled Chermoula Sardines

Moroccan donuts with a glass of mint tea on a table

Sfenj (Moroccan Doughnuts)

Overhead view of harcha on plate

Harcha (Moroccan Semolina Bread)

2 bowls of Loubia Stew on a wooden board with bread on the side and fabric napkin on the bottom of photo

Loubia (Moroccan Stewed White Beans With Lamb)

2 plates of Chicken couscous T'faya on pink surface surrounded by bowls of broth, toasted almonds, and forks

Chicken Couscous Tfaya (Moroccan Couscous With Braised Chicken)

Lamb and prune Tagine with side of couscous, prunes, bread and cutlery on a blue tile surface

Lamb and Prune Tagine

Overhead view of sauce

Chermoula Recipe

Overhead view of one pan chicken Bastilla

Bastila (Moroccan Chicken Pie)

Overhead view of Spicy Carrot Ginger Soup with harissa

Spicy Carrot and Ginger Soup With Harissa

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Eggplant and Tomato Sauce With Israeli Couscous Recipe

Roast Chicken with Saffron, Hazelnuts, and Honey

Roast Chicken With Saffron, Hazelnuts, and Honey From 'Ottolenghi'

French in a Flash: Moroccan Baked Scallops Recipe

Moroccan-Style Spicy Carrot Dip Recipe

Moroccan Almond Phyllo Pastries (A Take On M'hanncha) Recipe

Moroccan Lamb Meatball Tagine

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Broiled Mint Msemen With Honey Recipe

Harissa-Honey Glazed Roasted Salmon Recipe

Bowl of Chobra Frik in a blue and white bowl, with small dish of lemons and cilantro on a white marble background

Chorba Frik (Freekeh Soup)

Overhead view of Kabab Halla

Kabab Halla (Egyptian Braised Beef With Onions)

Overhead view of Kefta Briouates

Moroccan Kefta and Bell Pepper Briouats (Ground Meat and Bell Pepper Pastries)

Overhead view of chicken tagine on a platter

Chicken M’qualli Tagine With Olives and Preserved Lemon

Overhead view of Basbousa Bel Ashta

Basbousa Bel Ashta (Semolina Cake With Ashta Cream Filling)

Overhead view of egg drop Harira

Moroccan Egg Drop Harira (Vegetable and Legume Soup)

Overhead view of a half of dish of Egyptian fatta

Chicken tagine with chickpeas and figs in an earthenware vessel

Chicken Tagine With Pistachios, Dried Figs, and Chickpeas Recipe

Shakshuka in a cast iron skillet, topped with parsley and olives, with a scooped single serving in a bowl and pita bread on the side.

Shakshuka (North African–Style Poached Eggs in Spicy Tomato Sauce)

Homemade Merguez Sausage

Lablabi (Tunisian Chickpea Soup)

Lablabi (Tunisian Chickpea Soup) From 'The Heart of the Plate'

Dukkah (Middle Eastern Nut and Spice Blend)

Ful medames served inside a bowl with a side of toasted pita

Ful Medames (Egyptian Breakfast Fava Beans With Tahini)

A foil-lined sheet pan of quick broiled shrimp cooked in beer and harissa.

What to Do With Harissa: Recipes for Stews, Salads, and More

A bowl of fresh chile harissa with a spoon on the side

Fresh Chile Harissa

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