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Quick thread on Maghrebi sweets and desserts: 
1.Meskouta:
A winter orange and almond cake, traditionally prepared when oranges ripen in the cold months of November and December. It's often accompanied by hot Maghrebi mint tea or coffee on the side. My grandmother makes the best Meskouta and thatâs that.
A winter orange and almond cake, traditionally prepared when oranges ripen in the cold months of November and December. It's often accompanied by hot Maghrebi mint tea or coffee on the side. My grandmother makes the best Meskouta and thatâs that.
2.Makroudh:
A sweet date filling stuffed inside a diamond-shaped semolina dough. It is fried or baked, then doused in honey-based syrups which are often flavored with lemon or orange blossom.
A sweet date filling stuffed inside a diamond-shaped semolina dough. It is fried or baked, then doused in honey-based syrups which are often flavored with lemon or orange blossom.
3.Bambalouni:
Traditional Tunisian doughnuts , especially popular in the village of Sidi Bou Said.
Traditional Tunisian doughnuts , especially popular in the village of Sidi Bou Said.
4.Sellou:
Traditional sweet, popular in Morocco, consisting of oven-browned flour, fried almonds, and toasted sesame seeds.
Traditional sweet, popular in Morocco, consisting of oven-browned flour, fried almonds, and toasted sesame seeds.
5.Sfenj:
Doughnut-like fritters made from unleavened batter. The dough is shaped into rings and deep-fried until it develops a golden, crispy exterior. Very similar to the Bambalouni, but more common in Morocco.
Doughnut-like fritters made from unleavened batter. The dough is shaped into rings and deep-fried until it develops a golden, crispy exterior. Very similar to the Bambalouni, but more common in Morocco.
6.Fekkas:
Twice-baked biscotti, can be both sweet and savoury. Prepared w/ shortbread dough enriched w/ orange blossom water, aniseed, or citrus zest, as well as toasted nuts + dried fruit.
Twice-baked biscotti, can be both sweet and savoury. Prepared w/ shortbread dough enriched w/ orange blossom water, aniseed, or citrus zest, as well as toasted nuts + dried fruit.
7.Kaab el-Ghazal:
A thin pastry shell wrapped around a sweet cinnamon-flavored almond filling. Both filling + pastry dough are enriched with orange blossom water.
A thin pastry shell wrapped around a sweet cinnamon-flavored almond filling. Both filling + pastry dough are enriched with orange blossom water.
8.Almond Baklava (Baklawa): Many people already know the traditional Turkish pistachio baklava, but in North Africa, the almond version is far more popular.
9.Tcharek M'seker:
An Algerian powdered sugar biscuit infused with orange blossom water (youâll notice we use a lot of orange-related things in our sweets lol). One of my favourites.
An Algerian powdered sugar biscuit infused with orange blossom water (youâll notice we use a lot of orange-related things in our sweets lol). One of my favourites.
10.Ghorayeba:
A shortbread without the crunch. Just barely sweet, with a ghee flavor, soft bite, and a delicate texture that melts away in the mouth. A hundred variations, but the most traditional one is this Egyptian version.
A shortbread without the crunch. Just barely sweet, with a ghee flavor, soft bite, and a delicate texture that melts away in the mouth. A hundred variations, but the most traditional one is this Egyptian version.
11. Rice pudding:
Roz bil heleeb is hearty, spicy, warm, and comforting. A sweet porridge topped with shredded coconut and nuts like almonds or pistachios. Often spiced with cinnamon and has a subtle orange blossom flavour, because Brand.
Roz bil heleeb is hearty, spicy, warm, and comforting. A sweet porridge topped with shredded coconut and nuts like almonds or pistachios. Often spiced with cinnamon and has a subtle orange blossom flavour, because Brand.
12. Mâhanncha
Means âcoiled like a snake.â
A large, coiled pastry. It can be cut into smaller pieces or pulled apart by hand. Made w/ phyllo pastry, wrapped in almond paste and often has a cinnamon and orange blossom flavour, coated with almonds, pistachios or powdered sugar.
Means âcoiled like a snake.â
A large, coiled pastry. It can be cut into smaller pieces or pulled apart by hand. Made w/ phyllo pastry, wrapped in almond paste and often has a cinnamon and orange blossom flavour, coated with almonds, pistachios or powdered sugar.
13. Chebakia:
A fried pastry shaped like a blooming rose, soaked in a syrup of honey and rosewater, topped with sesame seeds. Very popular in Ramadan.
A fried pastry shaped like a blooming rose, soaked in a syrup of honey and rosewater, topped with sesame seeds. Very popular in Ramadan.
14. Boussou la Tmessou:
Light Algerian cookies. Name meaning âkiss, but donât touch,â referring to their soft and delicate texture. Gathered into tiny diamonds and baked until golden. Breifly dipped in orange blossom water and coated in a layer of powdered sugar.
Light Algerian cookies. Name meaning âkiss, but donât touch,â referring to their soft and delicate texture. Gathered into tiny diamonds and baked until golden. Breifly dipped in orange blossom water and coated in a layer of powdered sugar.
I think everyone now understands why I have the orange 
in my name. Itâs the one fruit forever in every North African household.
in my name. Itâs the one fruit forever in every North African household.
