Regional Stew · Spiced Potato Tagine
Chtitha Batata
Photo: Zinou2go / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Its name means 'little dance' in reference to how fiery the sauce is — a nod to the punch of derssa, Algeria's garlic-and-chili paste, that defines the whole chtitha family of dishes.
Chtitha batata simmers potatoes in a red sauce built on derssa (a garlic and chili paste), tomatoes, and warming spices until the potatoes turn deep orange and soak up the heat. This meat-free version built around potato is a favorite home dish in the Ghardaïa region.
Why it's made this way: As an accessible variant within the wider chtitha family, it's a common everyday meal for Mzab households, served alongside bread for scooping up the thick sauce.
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