Know Thine Enemy – Algeria

England’s next opponents are Algeria and pose quite a contrast from those over in Stateside. Rather than a line up of burgers, ribs and lobsters, Algerian cuisine is more reliant on grain and vegetables. This is not to say that Algerian food is dour and lacking in flavour, it simply relies on different ways of preparing its food.

It is difficult to define the exact specifics of Algerian food given that it shares a lot with its north African neighbours, Morroco, Tunisia and Libya. Fortunately, none of these other countries have qualified for this year’s World Cup so there’s no problem of making strict definitions of what is Algerian and what is not.

One of the staples of north African food is the tajine. This is a kind of stew which features either lamb or chicken along with a variety of ingredients such as olives, raisins, dates and prunes. You can also find beef and fish tagines although these are much rarer.

Another typical Algerian dish is chakhchoukha. This is a combination of flat bread, which is called rougag, and a stew. The rougag is mixed in through tearing into small pieces. The stew typically consists of diced lamb that has been cooked with lemon, potatoes and tomatoes.

One particular curiosity is the merguez, which is a sausage made from either lamb, beef or a mixture of both. Its distinctive red colour is due to the addition of harissa, a hot chilli paste. It can either be grilled and eaten with couscous, combined with French fries or put into sandwiches.

Although the main Algerian communities in London are to be found in Edgware Road and Finsbury Park, these aren’t necessarily the places to go looking for the best Algerian cuisine. An excellent Algerian cafe is Khamsa, which is half-way between Brixton and Clapham. This serves generous portions of all of the above items at very reasonable prices.

Staying to the south but moving westwards, there is a small cafe called El-Bled in Streatham. It is decorated with pictures of the capital city, Algiers, and offers a wide range of produce. The quality might not always be of the highest standard but it is still a charming little venue.

Algerians also take their coffee very seriously. You can find a decent cup of coffee in most north African restaurants and cafes but if you are looking for something that bit special, head along to the Algerian Coffee Stores in Soho. Even if you’re not in the mood for coffee, the smell inside the shop is quite extraordinary. Opened in 1887, the shop contains over 80 coffees and 120 teas from all around the world. Sit down, enjoy an espresso and perhaps a makroudh, a pastry filled with dates or almonds.

Khamsa
140 Acre Lane
Clapham
SW2 5UT

Tel: 020 7733 3150

El-Bled
296-298 Streatham High Road
Streatham
SW16 6HG

Tel: 020 8769 9428

Algerian Coffee Stores
52 Old Compton Street
Soho
W1D 4PB

Tel: 020 7437 2480