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Algerian homemade Rechta (noodles)

Rachta is made of dough that is similar to pasta. It also has zucchini, chicken sauce, and chickpeas. The dish is a bit similar to Chekhchoukha but a lot lighter when it comes to thickness.
Prep Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Algerian
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup fine semolina
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 water more or less
  • olive oil

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, mix semolina, flour and salt.
  • Sprinkle water over the semolina mixture, little by little.
  • Mix everything with your hand and stop adding water once the dough gets together. No need to knead the dough.
  • Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let rest on the counter for about 30 minutes.
  • Divide the dough into 3 pieces. You can do this step before letting the dough rest.
  • Dust your working board with flour and roll out each piece of dough into thin long strip or sheet, using a rolling pin (you may need to cut the long strip into half to make the work easy).
  • Pass each pasta sheet (slightly dusted with flour) in the pasta machine to get a thin sheet. You should set up your machine to the thickness close to that of your pasta sheets, then end up with the lowest setting to get the thinest sheet.
  • Place your thinnest sheets on a clean kitchen towel and let them dry for about 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Pass each pasta sheet in the part of the machine that makes thin noodles.
  • Place a plate underneath to catch the noodles or the Rechta.
  • Once you make about a plate of Rechta, start to steam it. Place the Rechta in the top of a steamer( the top of the steamer should be oiled with olive oil to avoid stickiness).
  • Steam for about 5 minutes or less.
  • Work on the other pasta sheets and make more Rechta.
  • Steam the Rechta in small batches.
  • Dump the steamed Rechta in a large shallow dish.
  • Drizzle with about 1 tbsp olive oil and start separating the noodles with hands. You may not need to add olive oil for the second batch of Rechta.
  • Once all the Rechta or noodles are separated, let cool then store in ziploc bags.
  • Place the bags in the freezer for later use.

Notes

I have used 3 measurements of semolina and 1 measurement of flour in this recipe ( I measured with 1/4 cup). If you want to make a big amount of Rechta, just chose a bigger measurement.
In this recipe, I have used 2 measurements of water, but the amount of water depends on your semolina and flour.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!