What is Berkoukes?
Berkoukes is a type of pasta that looks like couscous with big grains.
Berkoukes pasta is called les petits plombs in the French Language and in Algeria and some other countries it is also called Al Aiche, Al Mardoud, Moghrabieh, Mhamsa, or Berkoukech, depending on the country or region. The size of the balls or grains of pasta may differ from one to the other.
Berkoukes soup is made of Pasta, a variety of vegetables and red meat or poultry. The meat can be beef, goat or lamb.
Some recipes call for salted dried meat and others call for salted dried mutton fat. You can make this dish vegetarian, without adding any meat( red or white).
This is a wonderful dish to be served in cold weather especially if it is spicy.
Berkoukes is found in North Africa and in the Middle East.
The soup will not look the same the next day as usually the pasta will absorb all the liquid.
The best way to eat Berkoukes the next day is to warm it up in a large saucepan with some olive oil. It tastes better than if warmed in a microwave. Serve it warm, drizzled with olive oil.
I have used chicken in this recipe and the vegetables I have in hands.
You can use any vegetables that you prefer like green beans, green peas,…etc.
๐ฉ๐ฟ Algerian Berkoukes Soup with Chicken and Vegetables
Ingredients
- 2 or more chicken pieces (any)
- 1 cup Berkoukes pasta ( petits plombs)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup chickpeas, soaked overnight, washed and rinsed
- 1 medium tomato, grated
- 1 medium onion, minced
- 1 medium zucchini, diced
- 1 medium potato, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pumpkin piece, diced(about 1 cup)
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 hot peppers (any type), optional
- 1/4 bunch cilantro
- 1/4 bunch parsley
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp Ras Al Hanout
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp ginger powder
- Salt to taste
For the end of cooking (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp coriander powder
- 1 tbsp chopped cilantro
Instructions
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Put olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
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Add onion, garlic, chicken pieces, cilantro, parsley, tomato paste, salt, pepper, paprika, ginger and Ras Al Hanout
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Add chickpeas and let cook for 5 minutes.
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Add the grated tomato and all the vegetables (potato, carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, hot peppers (optional) and let cook for a good 10 minutes.
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Pour hot water (or boiled water) to cover the chicken and vegetables.
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Cover and let cook for about 30 minutes or until everything is cooked.
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Once the chicken is cooked, take it out of the sauce. Take out the cilantro and parsley and discard them.
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Debon the chicken and shred it. Set aside.
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Soak the Berkoukes pasta in hot water for 5 minutes.
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Rinse the pasta and drain it.
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Add the pasta to the sauce and add the shredded chicken.
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Mix and let cook covered for 10 to 15 minutes.
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Adjust the seasoning, add salt if needed.
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Add coriander powder, minced garlic and cilantro, let boil for 2 minutes then turn off the heat.
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Serve.
Recipe Notes
- You can use any vegetable that you like in this soup.
- You can make the dish vegetarian without adding any meat ( red or white).
- You can use your favorite spices in this dish.
