African cuisine encompasses within its fold several nations, including Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and Sudan. The roots of North African cuisine can be traced back to the ancient empires of North Africa, particularly in Egypt, where many of the country's dishes and culinary traditions date back to antiquity. Over several centuries traders, travelers, invaders, migrants and immigrants all have influenced the cuisine of North Africa. The Phoenicians of the 1st century brought sausages, while the Carthaginians introduced wheat and its by-product, semolina. The Berbers adapted semolina into couscous, one of the main staple foods. Olives and olive oil were introduced before
Semolina On the Indian subcontinent, semolina (called Suji) is used for such confection or sweetmeat [Halwa]]. Such a preparation is also a popular dessert in Greece ("halvas") and Cyprus ("halvas"). In Greece, the dessert galaktoboureko is made by making a custard from the semolina and then wrapping it in phyllo sheets. In Cyprus, the semolina may be mixed also with almond cordial to create a light, water-based pudding. In Turkey ("Helva"), Bulgaria ("Halva"), Iran ("Halva"), India ("Halva"), Bangladesh ("Halua"), Palestine ("Khalwa"), and Arab countries, "halawa" is sometimes made with semolina scorched with sugar, butter, milk, and pine nuts. In Nepal, semolina