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The African Gourmet

The African Gourmet: Explore African Culture & Recipes

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Christmas & New Year in Africa

FOOD PROVERBS

Indulge in the deliciousness of homemade North African Baklava, filled with a delightful blend of walnuts, honey, and orange blossom water. Treat yourself to a delectable dessert made with this sweet delicacy.

North African Baklava Recipe

For this North African baklava recipe, please make sure the phyllo pastry is thawed before you begin the recipe. The culture and food of North Africa would not be complete without including Baklava. North African Baklava is a rich, sweet dessert pastry made of layers of light, airy filo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with honey.

I recently made some delicious North African Baklava at home. It's made with layers of delicate phyllo pastry and filled with a sweet mixture of walnuts, honey, and orange blossom water.

Ingredients
One 16-ounce package of phyllo dough
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups chopped walnuts
1 cup melted butter

Baklava Syrup 
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
½ cup orange blossom honey
¼ teaspoon orange blossom water

Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F. Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Mix cinnamon and walnuts in a medium bowl and set aside. Unroll phyllo cut into two equal halves.

Cover phyllo with a slightly moist cloth while assembling to keep it from drying out. Place 2 sheets of phyllo in the bottom of the prepared dish, brush liberally with butter, and sprinkle 3 tablespoons of cinnamon and walnut mixture on top. Repeat layers. Cut the baklava into desired serving sizes and bake for 45-50 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to low. Finally, when the baklava is removed from the oven, immediately evenly pour syrup over the finished pastry. Allow cooling before serving. Store uncovered.

Sweet Easy North African Baklava Recipe
Baklava

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DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

African Recipes Organized by Meal Time

African Drinks & Beverages

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Ivy, founder and author of The African Gourmet

About the Author

Ivy is the founder and lead writer of The African Gourmet. For over 19 years, she has been dedicated to researching, preserving, and sharing the rich culinary heritage and food stories from across the African continent.

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The African Gourmet is preserved as a cultural resource and is currently selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives.

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Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

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Recipes as Revolution

Recipes as Revolution

When food becomes protest and meals carry political meaning

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She Feeds Africa

Before sunrise, after sunset, seven days a week — she grows the food that keeps the continent alive.

60–80 % of Africa’s calories come from her hands.
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African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.