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Rechta with vegetable sauce
Algiers's fine steamed noodles in a white turnip and chickpea broth
Rechta is the dish of Algiers and Blida for Mouloud, Ashura and the first day of the new year: thin, square-cut fresh noodles steamed in a couscoussier like couscous, then drenched in a pale, cinnamon-scented white sauce of turnips, courgette and chickpeas. It is usually made with chicken; this vegetable version keeps the gentle, peppery broth. Dried rechta is sold in North African shops; very thin dried egg-free noodles work too. Chef's tip: steam the noodles twice and rub them with oil in between, so they stay separate and silky.
- Total time
- 70 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the sauce
For the noodles
To serve
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Warm 2 tbsp olive oil and ⅔ oz butter in the base of a couscoussier or large pot over a medium heat. Cook 1 onion with 1 cinnamon stick, ¾ tsp white or black pepper and 1 ¼ tsp salt for 5 minutes, until soft but not coloured; the sauce should stay white.
5 minStep 2: Add 1.5 litres vegetable stock and 7 oz cooked chickpeas and bring to a simmer. Add 3 small turnips and simmer for 15 minutes.
15 minStep 3: Meanwhile, put 14 oz dried rechta noodles in a large bowl, sprinkle with 2 tbsp olive oil and a little water and rub through your fingers. Steam in the top of the couscoussier, uncovered, for 15 minutes from when steam rises through the noodles.
15 minStep 4: Tip the noodles back into the bowl, sprinkle with a cupful of the broth and ½ tsp salt, and separate with your fingers.
Step 5: Add 2 courgettes and 3 ½ oz green beans to the sauce. Return the noodles to the steamer and steam for 15 minutes more, until tender. Common mistake: boiling rechta like pasta — it turns slippery and clumps.
15 minStep 6: Rub ⅔ oz butter through the hot noodles. Pile into bowls, top with the vegetables and ladle over plenty of hot broth. Scatter with 2 tbsp parsley.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 560 kcal
- Protein
- 18 g
- Carbs
- 86 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 9 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does rechta with vegetable sauce take?
- About 70 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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