Couscous
Tiny pasta grains with vegetable stew
Think of it as: Like stew over rice, except the rice is teeny pasta
The world's tiniest pasta.
What does it taste like?
Mild, fluffy grains soaking up a warmly spiced meat and vegetable broth.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureFluffy and grainy
What is it?
Tiny grains of wheat (couscous) are steamed and topped with a meat and vegetable stew, a North African staple. As a dish of the Maghreb, including Algeria, it's on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
How locals eat it
Served on a big platter on Fridays and at family gatherings. Eaten with a spoon or rolled into balls with the right hand.
Watch it
JapaneseTap to play (YouTube)This video is not in English. YouTube auto-translated captions can help.
More videos on YouTubeWhere is it from?
🇩🇿Algeria
CapitalAlgiers
Populationabout 48 millionestimate (unverified)
IndustriesOil and natural gas, Farming, Steel
Famous peopleAlbert CamusAlgerian-born writer (The Stranger)
HelloAssalamu alaikum (Arabic)
CurrencyAlgerian dinar
And JapanJapanese companies helped build the highway linking the country from east to west.
Fun factThe largest country in Africa by area.
The flag🇩🇿 A red crescent and star on a field of green and white.
From Tokyoabout 10,800 kmstraight line, Tokyo to Algiers
Getting thereabout 20 hours from Tokyo (with transfers)rough guide
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeMarch to May and October to November, when it's not too hot, are best. Also tryChorbaMéchouiBourek
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeMarch to May and October to November, when it's not too hot, are best. Also tryChorbaMéchouiBourek
🇩🇿 Sounds & life in Algeria
السلام عليكمHello（Assalamu alaikum (Arabic)）
Arabic script (Latin alphabet too)
Arabic script (Latin alphabet too)
Right now…
Anthem"We Pledge" (Kassaman)
MusicRaï Straight-from-the-heart songs born in the port city of Oran
Listen on YouTube SportSoccer
Riyad Mahrez (soccer; captain of the Algerian national team) World HeritageTassili n'Ajjer and more National animalFennec fox FestivalIndependence Day (July 5)
MusicRaï Straight-from-the-heart songs born in the port city of Oran
Listen on YouTube SportSoccer
Riyad Mahrez (soccer; captain of the Algerian national team) World HeritageTassili n'Ajjer and more National animalFennec fox FestivalIndependence Day (July 5)
Ingredients
- Couscous 300 g
- Lamb or chicken 500 g
- Carrots 2
- Zucchini 1
- Turnips 2
- Chickpeas (cooked) 150 g
- Tomato paste 1 tbsp
- Ras el hanout (spice blend) 2 tsp
How to make it (one way)
- Fry the meat with spices and oil, then add tomato paste and water and simmer
- Add the carrots, turnips and chickpeas and simmer 30 minutes
- Add the zucchini and simmer another 10 minutes
- Pour equal parts hot water and a little oil over the couscous, wait 5 minutes and fluff (traditionally it's steamed 2-3 times)
- Mound the couscous on a platter, top with the stew and pour over the broth