For a refreshing break or to start your day in the summer, it might be a good idea to try the original Algerian cold coffee, the mazagran. The name comes from Mazagran, a port city in Algeria. The origins of the drink are uncertain, but some sources suggest that in the 1840s it was drunk by French colonial troops stationed in the city. At that time, it was a mixture of coffee and water consumed to combat the heat. The original recipe has evolved over time and now includes the addition of some variations, such as lemon juice, cane sugar, mint … here’s how to prepare it.
Time 10 minutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
300 ml of coffee
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of honey
2 lemon wedges, a few mint leaves, ice to taste
Preparation
Prepare the coffee with the mocha or, if you prefer, espresso, dilute it a little with water. Add the honey and set aside to cool. Fill a large glass, preferably tall, with ice cubes. Add fresh lemon juice to taste. Now add the cooled coffee. Complete with a slice of lemon and a mint leaf. To best follow tradition, we suggest serving the drink in a tall, narrow glass, even of porcelain or earthenware.
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Algeria, Roasted Pepper and Tomato Salad
We have the recipe for a tasty and fresh salad made with roasted peppers and tomato, known as hmiss, chleta, felfla or felfel b’tomatich. Simple to prepare, we recommend enjoying it on top of crunchy bread.
Time 45 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
3 green peppers,
olive oil as needed
30 gr red onion,
1 clove garlic minced, salt and pepper as needed
1 tomato
Preparation
Start by preheating the oven to 200 degrees. Place the whole peppers on a sheet of aluminium foil. Bake them in the oven for about half an hour until the skin is stained black and the peppers are quite soft. Remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. Remove the skin that will come off easily and also remove the stem and seeds. Now cut the peppers into pieces about an inch wide.
Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. After finely chopping it, add the onion, stirring often. Add the chopped garlic, the peppers and the diced tomato. Season with salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Serve hot accompanied by crusty bread. (Photo: CC BY-SA 4.0/Slothtysloth)
