Food, sports, and recreation
Algeria shares its traditional cuisine with Morocco and Tunisia. A North African dish known as couscous (picture to the left) is a popular meal in all parts of Algeria. To make couscous, cooks sprinkle oil and water on semolina (a byproduct of milling hard wheat), then roll it into tiny morsels. The pieces are then steamed and covered with a thick, spicy tomato sauce. The sauce may contain vegetables and fish, beef, or mutton. Main courses include roast mutton and lamb, which are often grilled on a spit, as well as chicken stuffed with almonds, raisins and rice. Various soups have gained favor in Algeria’s large cities. Chorba beida, popular in both large cities and in the countryside, is chicken soup with vegetables, pasta, and egg yolk. Harissa, a hot seasoning of red peppers, salt, and garlic, often accompanies soups made from lentils and beans. Mediterranean seafood served in Algeria includes bass, perch, mullet, and sole. Sweet desserts of baklava and khtayef consist of nuts, honey, and sugar, combined in a thin pastry. Many Algerians enjoy a glass of sweet mint tea or coffee after meals. French colonists first brought wine grapes to northern Algeria in the nineteenth century. Since then Algerian wines have gained an international reputation. Many of the country’s strong red wines, including Medea and Lismara, are popular in Europe. Rose wines are also produced in the Tell region.
Many young Algerians are enthusiastic participants in recreational and competitive sports. Amateur and school teams play football (soccer), the country’s most popular sport. The Algerian national football team has participated in championships held by the African Football Federation. Algerians have also competed in the international Olympic Games. Alain Mimoun – an Algerian runner who represented France in the 1948, 1952, and 1956 games – won silver medals in several long-distance races and a gold medal in the 1956 Olympic marathon. Algeria’s sports facilities include a golf course near Algiers, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, and ski resorts. Water-skiing and sailing clubs operate in resorts along the Mediterranean Sea. Both Algerians and tourists enjoy horseback riding, mountaineering, and camping.