traditional Recipes
501 delicious traditional recipes from around the world
Feteer Baladi (Egyptian Layered Pastry)
Feteer Baladi is a traditional Egyptian country pastry, renowned for its delicate, flaky layers. This simple yet delicious bread is a staple in rural Egyptian households and can be enjoyed on its own or with various sweet and savory accompaniments.
Feteer Meshaltet with Cheese
A beloved Egyptian layered pastry, Feteer Meshaltet, filled with savory white cheese and baked to golden perfection. Its signature flaky layers and rich, melted cheese filling make it a popular choice for breakfast, a hearty snack, or a light meal.
Feteer with Egyptian Sausage
A popular Egyptian savory breakfast or snack, this Feteer features incredibly thin, flaky layers of dough generously filled with spiced Egyptian sausage and cheese, baked until golden and crispy.
Fiteer Meshaltet
Fiteer Meshaltet is a traditional Egyptian layered pastry, often described as an Egyptian pizza or a flaky pie. It's made by laminating dough with generous amounts of butter or ghee, creating numerous delicate, crispy layers. It can be enjoyed as a sweet treat or a savory main course.
Frikkadel (South African Meatballs)
Classic South African frikkadels are spiced meatballs, often made with beef and a hint of nutmeg, traditionally served in a savory tomato sauce. This recipe provides a straightforward method for preparing these beloved comfort food staples.
Fufu (Akpu)
A staple Nigerian 'swallow' made from fermented cassava, resulting in a smooth, stretchy dough with a characteristic mild sourness. It's designed to be eaten with hearty soups.
Fufu with Light Soup
A classic Ghanaian dish featuring a smooth, stretchy dough made from pounded cassava and plantain, served in a rich, spicy tomato-based soup with tender meat. Traditionally eaten by hand, it's a hearty and flavorful meal.
Ful Medames
Ful Medames is a hearty and flavorful Egyptian breakfast staple made from slow-cooked fava beans, mashed with aromatic garlic, bright lemon juice, and rich olive oil. This ancient dish is both deeply satisfying and essential to Egyptian cuisine.
Fura de Nunu
A traditional Hausa-Fulani refreshment from Northern Nigeria, featuring soft, steamed millet balls (fura) served in a tangy, fermented milk (nunu) base. This dish is both nutritious and incredibly satisfying, especially on a warm day.
Genfo (Ethiopian Teff Porridge)
Genfo is a hearty and traditional Ethiopian breakfast porridge made from teff flour, enriched with spiced clarified butter (niter kibbeh) and a kick of berbere spice. It's typically served thick and is a staple for starting the day.
Halawa Tehina (Egyptian Sesame Halva)
A dense, rich, and traditional Egyptian sweet made from tahini (sesame paste). This halva is a delightful candy with a unique texture and nutty flavor, often enjoyed for breakfast or as a sweet treat.
Harira
A hearty and flavorful Moroccan tomato and lentil soup, enriched with chickpeas, herbs, and often lamb or beef. Traditionally served to break the fast during Ramadan, it's a comforting and nourishing meal.
Harira Fassia (Fez-Style Harira)
A rich and aromatic Fez-style harira, a quintessential Moroccan soup traditionally enjoyed to break the fast during Ramadan. This version features tender lamb, hearty legumes, and a distinct blend of spices, thickened with a traditional flour slurry.
Hertzoggies
Delicate shortcrust jam tarts filled with apricot jam and topped with a sweet, chewy coconut meringue, then baked until golden. A beloved South African treat.
Isi Ewu (Spicy Goat Head)
Isi Ewu is a highly sought-after Igbo delicacy, featuring tender pieces of goat head simmered in a rich, spicy, and aromatic palm oil-based sauce. This dish is traditionally served hot and is a popular choice for celebrations and social gatherings.
Kaab el Ghzal (Moroccan Gazelle Horns)
Delicate, crescent-shaped pastries filled with a fragrant almond paste, a classic Moroccan sweet treat often served during celebrations and special occasions. The name translates to 'gazelle horns' due to their distinctive shape.
Kapenta with Sadza
A traditional Zimbabwean dish from the Lake Kariba region, featuring small dried fish (kapenta) simmered in a tomato and onion relish, served alongside a thick maize porridge known as sadza. It's a hearty, nutritious, and flavorful meal.
Kawareh (Egyptian Cow Feet Soup)
A deeply flavorful and comforting Egyptian soup made from slow-cooked cow feet, infused with aromatic spices. This traditional dish is known for its rich, gelatinous broth and tender meat, often served with crusty bread and a tangy vinegar dressing.
Kilishi (Nigerian Spiced Dried Beef)
Kilishi is a popular Nigerian snack, often described as a Hausa-style dried beef jerky. It's made from very thinly sliced beef that is dried and then coated in a flavorful, spicy paste before being dried again to a crisp.
Kitfo
A traditional Ethiopian delicacy, Kitfo is a finely minced raw beef dish seasoned with aromatic spices and clarified butter. It's often served with traditional accompaniments like Ayib (a mild, fresh cheese) and Gomen (braised collard greens). This recipe details the preparation of raw Kitfo, with an option for lightly warming it.
Kitfo (Authentic Ethiopian Steak Tartare)
An authentic Ethiopian delicacy, Kitfo is a finely minced raw beef dish traditionally seasoned with niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter) and mitmita (a fiery chili powder blend). It's a beloved dish for meat connoisseurs, often served with traditional accompaniments. This recipe includes instructions for both the traditional raw preparation and the 'leb leb' (lightly warmed) version.
Kofta Meshweya (Egyptian Grilled Kofta)
Authentic Egyptian Kofta Meshweya, featuring a flavorful blend of spiced ground meat molded onto skewers and grilled to perfection. This classic dish is a staple at gatherings and celebrations.
Mahshi (Egyptian Stuffed Vegetables)
A beloved Egyptian comfort food, Mahshi features a medley of vegetables like grape leaves, zucchini, and bell peppers, generously stuffed with a fragrant, herbed rice mixture and slowly simmered in a rich tomato broth.
Malva Pudding with Sauce
A classic South African sticky sponge pudding, known for its moist, caramel-like texture and rich apricot flavor, served with a warm, creamy sauce that soaks into the cake.