A Brief History: Makroud El Louse

Makroud El Louse is a delicious almond cookie from Algeria – a delightful almond-flavoured cookie coated with powdered sugar – and they have a tendency to melt in the mouth. They also happen to be one of my favourite cookies! Oh, and they’re also flourless, so they’re perfect for anyone who is on a gluten-free diet.

Algerian history is a rich history, and their cuisine has been deeply influenced by the countries and cultures who ruled and traded with their country. The indigenous Berber tribe was one of the earliest inhabitants of Algeria, and they live there still, but Algeria has been ruled by Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Turks, and most recently the French. French rule came to an end in 1962 and Algeria is now an independent nation.

Algerian cuisine is known as Maghrib, and it denotes the region where Algeria is located. It has strong similarities with the cuisines of Morocco and Tunisia, but it is also unique in that it is a beautiful fusion of Arab, Berber, Mediterranean, and Ottoman cuisine.

The various influences are visible in every aspect of Algerian cuisine. From the Berbers the Algerians learned to cultivate wheat and semolina wheat; they also introduced smen (aged, cooked butter) and fruits (such as dates and other dried fruits). Turks and Arabs brought exotic spices with them such as saffron, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. The Spanish brought with them olives and fruits such as peaches, oranges, and plums. The French brought pastries (as did the Turks and the Arabs), and introduced the use of ingredients such as tomatoes. Europeans also introduced tea and the Turks brought coffee with them.

Find the recipe to this deliciousness here.

1 Comment

  • recipe videos 18th January 2018 at 12:59 am

    Thhis site was… how doo you saay it? Relevant!!
    Finally I’ve found something which helped me. Many thanks!

    Reply

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