Algerian Artisan Little cakes

08/05/2026

In Algiers, coffee is more than just coffee.

Some of us grew up with the smell of orange blossom filling the kitchen before the first sip even touched the cup. Soft, fragrant, comforting… a small ritual that brings back memories of home, family, and slow conversations.

Today at Khamsa, we wanted to share a little piece of that tradition with you. 🇩🇿

07/05/2026

Some dishes feed you.

Others bring back a feeling you forgot existed.

Algerian Sfiriya 🇩🇿

Soft, fragrant, delicate, and deeply comforting. A quiet classic from the kitchens of Algiers.

05/05/2026

Not every kitchen tool is just a kitchen tool.

This is El Mahrez.
In Arabic, the word comes from crushing, grinding, breaking spices by hand. Cinnamon sticks, cumin, garlic, coriander… slowly crushed the old way, not rushed.

Today we are in 2026. There are machines for everything now. One button and your spices become powder in seconds. Easier, faster, cleaner maybe.

But still, in Algeria, El Mahrez never disappeared.

If you walk into an Algerian home, you will almost always find one. Sometimes in the kitchen, still being used every day. Sometimes sitting proudly as decoration because people cannot let go of what it represents.

For me, I still use it in my restaurant.

Not because I have to.Because it reminds me of something real.

The sound alone takes me back home. Back to Algeria. Especially Algiers and the Casbah. That heavy rhythm of metal hitting together… it is part of our kitchens, our childhood, our memories.

But El Mahrez carries another story too.

During the Algerian War, women from the Casbah used the sound of the mahrez when French soldiers entered the streets searching for Algerian resistance fighters. The women would start hammering loudly on the mahrez while raising the famous youyou cries across the neighbourhood.

The streets would fill with sound.

What looked like women simply working in their kitchens was also a warning, a distraction, a way to protect those fighting for Algeria.

That’s what touches me about this tool.

It holds spices, yes.But it also holds memory, resistance, and the sound of a people who refused to disappear.

Khamsa Brixton 🇩🇿

30/04/2026

15/04/2026

Only 2 days left 🙏
Voting for the Smala Awards 2026 closes on the 17th.
If you haven’t voted yet for Khamsa Brixton, I’d really appreciate your support.
Please follow the link below to vote, and feel free to share it with your friends as well.
Thank you ❤️
https://smala-app.fr/sign-in 🇩🇿

16/03/2026

30/11/2024

Perfect gift for the loved ones !
Consider giving your loved one the gift of this workshop to start the new year with exciting new culinary skills!

Are you eager to learn the secrets to making perfectly fluffy couscous? Are you interested in exploring the fascinating history behind this cherished dish?
Or perhaps you’re looking to adopt the healthiest cooking techniques for preparing it?
If this resonates with you, you’re in the right place! Join us at Khamsa, where I’ll guide you through expert methods to master the art of couscous-making while focusing on nutritious cooking practices.
For more information and to secure your spot, please visit our website: https://www.khamsa.co.uk/event-list. 🇬🇧

25/10/2024

Hier, j'ai décidé de me lancer un défi en préparant des Makrouts Algériens sans gluten en raison de ma maladie cœliaque. J'avais quelques doutes quant à ma capacité à réussir cette épreuve, mais je dois admettre que j'ai été surpris par le résultat ce matin. Bien qu'il y ait encore des progrès à faire, je suis conscient que tester différentes farines sans gluten pourrait aboutir à des résultats encore meilleurs. :)

24/10/2024

Pas mal pour une première étape, j'attends maintenant la dernière.

24/10/2024

Mon défi aujourd'hui est de faire des Makrouts la3ssal sans Gluten. Si je n'ai pas posté leur photos, c'est qu'ils ressemblent à des pierres. 😂 wish me Luck 😂