Food of Libya
Libyan cooking blends Mediterranean and Saharan traditions, with barley, olive oil, tomatoes, dates and plenty of chili. Bazeen is the traditional dish for guests, while pasta in spicy tomato sauce, soups and fish are everyday meals. Sweets come with dates, almonds and tea.
Bazeen
A firm barley-flour dome served with lamb in tomato sauce, potatoes and boiled eggs.
How to make Bazeen- Main dishes (7)
- Breakfast (2)
- Street food (1)
- Soups (1)
- Salads (1)
- Breads (1)
- Desserts and sweets (3)
- Drinks (2)
- Fruits and produce (5)
Staples
- barley
- lamb
- olive oil
- dates
- tomato
- pasta
- fish
Signature flavors
- chili
- cumin
- mint
- coriander
- turmeric
- harissa
Main dishes
A firm barley-flour dome served with lamb in tomato sauce, potatoes and boiled eggs.
Key ingredients: barley flour, lamb, tomato, potato, eggsFull guide →
Steamed couscous with lamb and pumpkin or squash.
Key ingredients: couscous, lamb, pumpkin, chickpeasFull guide →
Sausage-like stuffed tripe with rice and herbs.
Key ingredients: rice, liver, herbs, spicesCrisp fried pastries filled with spiced potato.
Key ingredients: potato, dough, spicesNoodles with chickpeas and lamb in a light broth.
Key ingredients: noodles, chickpeas, lamb
Eggs cooked in a spicy tomato sauce.
Key ingredients: eggs, tomato, chiliFull guide →
Baked pasta in spicy tomato sauce with meat.
Key ingredients: pasta, tomato, chili, lambBreakfast
A soft dough eaten with date syrup and butter.
Key ingredients: flour, date syrup, butter
Toasted barley flour mixed with olive oil and dates.
Key ingredients: barley, olive oil, datesStreet food
Fried pastry triangles with meat or cheese.
Key ingredients: dough, meat, cheeseSoups
Lamb and orzo soup flavored with mint and tomato.
Key ingredients: lamb, orzo, tomato, mintSalads
Tomato, cucumber and onion with mint and chili.
Key ingredients: tomato, cucumber, mint, chiliBreads
Barley bread cooked on a clay plate.
Key ingredients: barley, flourDesserts and sweets
Date-filled semolina diamonds.
Key ingredients: semolina, dates
Crumbly sesame cookies.
Key ingredients: flour, sesame
Fried batter swirls in syrup.
Key ingredients: flour, syrupDrinks
Strong tea served in rounds with peanuts and mint.
Key ingredients: tea, mint, peanuts
Dark coffee served in small cups.
Key ingredients: coffeeFruits and produce
Fezzan dates, soft and sweet.
Key ingredients: snacksFull guide →
Olives and oil from the coast.
Key ingredients: oil
Dried figs.
Key ingredients: freshFull guide →
Oranges and lemons from coastal orchards.
Key ingredients: juice
Summer fruit.
Key ingredients: chilledFull guide →Dish guides from Libya
Explore Libya on Geographical EffectMaps, capital and cities, population, climate, landscapes and landmarks.More cuisines of Northern Africa
Descriptions written by Intercontinental Chef. Dishes are listed as commonly eaten today; many are shared across neighbouring countries.
- Moroccan cuscus, from Casablanca, September 2018: Lmmima, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Tunisian Osban couscous: AmelGhouila, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Shakshuka by Calliopejen1: Calliopejen1, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Macaroni2: Popo le Chien, CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- عصيدة-قطيفية: Mustafa Al-Elq, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Tunisian bsisa: Kamelgazzah, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Samosas, snack food at Wikipedia's 16th Birthday celebration in Chittagong (01): Moheen Reeyad, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Bean soup with tomatoes and red peppers: Gillgaramond, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- A large mixed salad: Gatorfan252525, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Korb mit Brötchen: 3268zauber, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Makrouds: Credits to Mourad Ben Abdallah / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
- Gurabija (гурабија,Qurabiya; Cuisine of Serbia): Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Jalebi Colors: Sankeerth, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Longjing tea steeping in gaiwan: Difference engine, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Latte and dark coffee: Bex Walton, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Dates005: Nepenthes, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Olivesfromjordan: en:User:Nickfraser, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Ficus carica L, 1771: Trew, C.J, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
- OrangeBloss wb: Ellen Levy Finch (Elf), CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Taiwan 2009 Tainan City Organic Farm Watermelon FRD 7962: Fred Hsu (Wikipedia:User:Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
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