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Best Tajine mtewem in Toronto
“A garlicky Algerian braise where meatballs, chicken, chickpeas, and almonds simmer together in one pot.”
What the real thing tastes like
Tajine mtewem, usually abbreviated to mtewem (Arabic: طاجين مثوم), is a traditional Algerian dish, and more specifically Algerine (from the city of Algiers). It is made from minced meatballs, pieces of chicken or lamb meat, garlic, chickpeas and almonds. Its sauce is prepared with a grated onion and a lot of garlic ("mtewem" means “with garlic") and is usually cooked in a tajine pot. Like most Algerian dishes, it is usually served with either a white or red spicy sauce.
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Tajine mtewem is an Algerian classic that lives up to its name—mtewem literally means 'with garlic,' and this dish doesn't hold back. Meatballs and chicken or lamb swim in a deeply savory sauce built on grated onion and abundant garlic, studded with chickpeas and almonds for texture and richness. Cooked low and slow in a traditional tajine pot, it arrives at the table with a spicy sauce on the side, letting you control the heat.
Order it here when it has
- deeply aromatic with garlic
- layered protein and vegetable components
- traditional clay-pot cooking
- customizable heat level
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