What does khobz el-dar mean in English?

Khobz el-dar means “bread of the house” in English.

The Arabic word khobz means bread, while el-dar means of the house or belonging to the household. The name reflects the bread’s domestic identity: khobz el-dar is a homemade Maghrebi loaf, usually round and somewhat flat, rather than a name for a special feast or market bread.

The dough commonly uses white flour mixed with whole-wheat or semolina flour. Some versions are flavored with anise seeds. The bread is leavened and can be prepared in different ways across the Maghreb, so the exact thickness and cooking method vary.

An oven-baked form is also called khobz el koucha, or matloua el koucha. Traditionally, dough could be prepared at home and taken to a communal oven. A thinner version, khobz al-tajin, is cooked in an earthenware pan called a tajine. “Bread of the oven” therefore describes a related preparation, not the literal meaning of khobz el-dar.