Libyan

Libyan food is heavily influenced by the Mediterranean and North African ingredients and methods of cooking. The food is simple and easy to cook. Local ingredients are preferred in cooking and stews are very common.

 

Historical and Cultural Influences on Libyan Cuisine

Not much is known about the actual cooking styles of the state. Mediterranean and African influences are predominant but it was an Italian colony a few decades back. This has left has a subtle Italian influence on the cooking style.

 

Classification of Libyan Cuisine

The state has been divided into three distinct geographical locations: Tripolitania on the western coast, Cyrenaica to the east, and Fezzan in the southand each place has its own food style.

 

Ingredients Commonly Used in Libyan Cooking

Libyan food in normal life reflects the normal cooking style of peasant and common people. Couscous is cooked at every meal and it’s accompanied by a sauce of meat, tomatoes and spices. There is good supply of local meat, vegetables and fruits. Milk and dairy products are also available all through the year.

 

Traditional Libyan Recipes

There are a wide range of dishes that are cooked locally but they might not be that well known.

  • Sharba Libiya or Libyan soup is a very popular libyuan dish that has many of the ingredients that are present in the state. Most of the ingredients are then stewed together along with onions, tomatoes, mutton and chicken or lamb, chilies, herbs, salt, pepper, and cilantro to create thick gravy.
  • Batatan mubatana is a Libyan food item where potatoes are boiled and filled with mince or spiced meats and then deep fried.
  • The typical Bazeen dish is also a very popular Libyan food item where a thick dough ball is made and then served with tomato based gravy. It is then served with the ball in the center with the gravy around it and the boiled eggs in the center. Other variations include Bazeen Bil-Hoot or Bazeen cooked with fish), Bazeen Bil-Ful that is prepared with beans.
  • Rishtat Kis-Cas dish is a special food where thin or thick stringy noodles are served in a large dish with onion based meat gravy.
  • Macaroona Imbukubka is a very traditional foodwhere pasta is served with tomato based meat or vegetable gravy.

 

Libyan Cuisine Trivia

Libya is a Muslim country and no alcohol is allowed at all. Pork and pork dishes are not included in Libyan food