Bentsoltane

Zviti / Zfiti / Slata Bou mehras / الزفيتي This dish is known in Bousaada and Msila. It is a spicy salad made in a <merhass>, a traditional Algerian mortar, but you can also use a traditional wooden one. ingredients: Dough Where: 400 grams semoule salt Water Sauce: 2 large tomatoes Half red pepper 1 green pepper 4 cloves of garlic jar tomato paste fresh coriander ½ teaspoon fennel seeds ½ tsp coriander seeds salt Melted butter First you create a flat dough. Add 400 grams semoule with a bit of salt and water. The dough should be kneaded until it's smooth. Then let it rest for 15 minutes and form a sort of thin, round loaf shape. Bake it on two sides. Then grill the tomatoes, pepper and paprika. Boil some water and add tomato puree to this. Remove the skins of the grilled vegetables and chop them. Then add the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, fresh coriander and salt in the mortar and pound. Add the vegetables and tomato puree with water. Cut the dough into pieces and add it to the mixture. When it is too dry, you can always add some tomato-water mixture. Then add butter and mix it well. Serve it on a large tray with some coriander leaves.

Algerian princess dress The chedda Tlemcenia comes from Tlemcen, a city that, according to historians, was one of the most civilized cities on earth around the 15th century. The dress was worn by the princesses of the Zianidic Empire (1235-1556), where Tlemcen was its capital. Today the dress is worn at weddings and other occasions. The dress consists of several parts, each with its own origins and history. Under the caftan, a Rda is worn. This is a long skirt or dress in fine, shiny material from Tlemcen. The short velvet caftan derives from the Ottoman Empire and is adorned with fetla, golden embroideries from the city of Tlemcen. The sleeves are often shorter and are extended with tulle adorned with golden embroidery and pearls, beads or sequins. Pearl necklaces, Johor, are added around the upper body, original from ancient Andalusia. On the head the Tedj, 'crown', will be attached, decorated with fetla. The main head jewelry are the Zerof (headpiece) and the Djebine (head ornament), that is originally from Yemeni. The big pearl earrings are called khoras / lkorsa. Furthermore, there are more accessories worn like kholkhal, meskia (large chain) and other jewelry that will be attached to the pearl chain. The Fouta is from the Amazigh culture. Given the rich history and acquired elements from different cultures, it is not surprising that the chedda Tlemcenia has been added at the UNESCO heritage list.

Emir Abdelkader mosque The mosque was completed in 1994. In 1968 the idea came up that a large mosque in Constantine should be built. Funds were set up by the people of Constantine. President Houari Boumedienne was very interested in the project and under his leadership it became both a mosque and an university. The university would be the first modern Algerian Islamic university.

The legend of the Deglet Nour Deglet Nour is an authentic Algerian date. Many documents proof that it originates from El Djazaïr. The fruit was introduced at the end of the 13th century and at the beginning of the 14th century in the areas of Biskra and Oued Righ in Algeria before being brought to Tunisia at the end of the 17th century by a grower from Tozeur named Sidi Touati. Worldwide is the Deglet Nour famous due to her soft touch, translucent light color and her soft honey-like taste, characteristics which distinguish it from other dates. One of the legends is about Aicha Bent Tenhib, daughter of the sultan of Touggourt (kingdom), she had a daughter named Nour. Nour was beautiful, but she had a problem. She would swallow everything that comes near to her mouth. To get rid of this problem, she went to a marabout. He promised to cure her, but also to make Oued Ghir prosperous. Nour had to eat dates that were grey, dry and tasteless during the meal. After the meal, they continued their journey. Nour got a severe stomach pain. They withdrew to a quiet area. Noors poop smelled honey-like and instead of poop it was a seed, she got 7 seeds in total. From that moment Nour was helped and didn’t have the urge to swallow anything. The seeds had a magical, calming function on Noor. The following year, Noor went back to the place where she had her severe stomach pain. To her surprise, she saw 7 date trees with fruits that shined in the sun and had a soft, honey-like taste. The fruits are called Delete Noor nowadays.