Morocco Food Guide: Top Dishes to Try on Your Visit

Moroccan cuisine is a vibrant fusion of Mediterranean, Arabic, and Berber influences that tantalizes your senses with aromatic spices, rich flavors, and a delightful array of couscous, tagines, and sweet treats. On your visit to Morocco, you’ll embark on a culinary adventure filled with mouthwatering dishes that showcase the country’s culinary heritage.

From the iconic couscous that graces every Moroccan table to the savory lamb or chicken tagines simmered to perfection, and the delectable bastilla pastry filled with meat and almonds, Morocco’s food scene promises an unforgettable gastronomic experience that will leave you craving for more.

Couscous – The National Dish

Couscous, the beloved national dish of Morocco, is a staple that graces every Moroccan table. This delectable dish is made with perfectly cooked semolina, vegetables, chickpeas, and meat, prepared in traditional or modern ways. Authentic Moroccan couscous is a traditional dish that is commonly served every Friday as a way for Moroccan families to gather and pray together.

The preparation involves a few key steps:

Cooking the Couscous: Water is brought to a boil, couscous is added, then covered and left to sit for 5 minutes before fluffing.
Preparing the Broth:
- The meat (lamb, beef or chicken) is browned first.
- Vegetables like onions, carrots, pumpkin, zucchini, turnips, cabbage, and chickpeas are added in stages and simmered in the broth until cooked through.
- The broth is seasoned with spices like ginger, pepper, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and allspice.
Assembling the Dish:
- The couscous is steamed three times over the simmering broth to achieve a light, fluffy texture.
- It is served in a large mound with the meat and vegetables arranged on top, and the flavorful broth served on the side.
- Optional garnishes like tfaya (caramelized onions and raisins) or fresh herbs like mint can be added.

Variations of this iconic dish include making it vegetarian, using different vegetables, or serving it over quinoa for a gluten-free option. No matter the variation, Moroccan couscous is a delightful feast that tantalizes the palate with its melange of flavors, textures, and colors.

Savory Delights

Morocco’s savory delights are a flavor-packed journey through the country’s rich culinary heritage. Prepare your taste buds for an explosion of aromatic spices and bold flavors:

Tagines: These slow-cooked meat or vegetable stews are prepared in an iconic earthenware pot, with varieties like lamb tagine with prunes and vegetable tagine being popular choices. The tagine’s unique shape allows the flavors to meld and intensify during cooking.
Bastilla: A sweet and sour pie with a filling of pigeon or chicken, almonds, spices, and eggs, wrapped in puff pastry and dusted with icing sugar and cinnamon.
Merguez Sausages: Spicy lamb sausages seasoned with a blend of cumin, fennel, and harissa, these flavorful links are often grilled or added to tagines and couscous dishes.
Kefta: Grilled meat skewers, typically made with lamb, beef, or chicken, marinated in a blend of aromatic spices like cumin, coriander, and paprika.
Zaalouk: A smoky and flavorful eggplant salad, featuring roasted eggplant mashed with tomatoes, garlic, and spices like cumin and paprika.
Briwats: Savory pastries filled with meat, vegetables, cheese, or almonds, then fried to crispy perfection.
Mechoui: Spit-roasted lamb or mutton, marinated with a blend of herbs and spices, is a traditional Moroccan dish often served at celebrations.

Other must-try savory delights include:

Harira (lentil and meat soup)
Maakouda (spicy fried potato fritters)
Rfissa (chicken, lentil, and pastry dish)
Baghrir (spongy semolina pancakes)

With their vibrant spices, aromatic broths, and tender meats, Morocco’s savory dishes are a feast for the senses.

Sweet Treats and Beverages

Morocco’s sweet treats and beverages are a delightful fusion of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Here are some must-try delicacies:

Moroccan Desserts:
- Flaky pastries like Kaab el ghazal (crescent-shaped cookies with almond filling), M’hanncha (warqa pastry with almond paste), and Chebakia (fried dough coated in honey and sesame seeds).
- Rich cakes and sticky sweets like Jawhara (layered warqa pastry with almond filling), Fekkas (twice-baked cookies with nuts and dried fruit), Ghoriba (chewy or crumbly almond cookies), and Sellou (oven-browned flour with almonds and sesame seeds).
Beverages:
- Mint Tea, the national drink of Morocco, heavily sweetened with sugar and poured from a height to create a froth.
- Moroccan Avocado Smoothie.

These sweet treats and beverages are a delectable fusion of honey, nuts, and fragrant spices, showcasing Morocco’s rich culinary heritage. From the iconic pastilla to the chewy chebakia and refreshing mint tea, your taste buds will be treated to a delightful array of flavors and textures.

Conclusion

Morocco’s culinary landscape is a tantalizing fusion of flavors that will leave you craving for more. From the iconic couscous that graces every Moroccan table to the savory tagines, flavorful merguez sausages, and the delectable pastilla pastry, the country’s cuisine offers a gastronomic adventure like no other. Immerse yourself in the aromatic spices, rich broths, and vibrant colors that define Moroccan gastronomy, and let your taste buds embark on a journey through a culinary heritage steeped in tradition and diversity.

As you plan your visit to Morocco, be prepared to indulge in the flavors that have captivated travelers for centuries. Savor the national dish of couscous, relish the smoky flavors of zaalouk eggplant salad, and delight in the sweetness of chebakia pastries and refreshing mint tea. Morocco’s food scene is a celebration of heritage, culture, and the art of combining simple ingredients into dishes that are both comforting and exquisite.