Savour the flavours of Morocco
A journey through Moroccan cuisine
Morocco’s colourful and lively sights will catch your eye, but it’s the delicious and authentic North African flavours that will truly draw you in. The Berbers first settled in what is now Morocco over two thousand years ago, living off the land. They cooked with olives, figs, and dates to make lamb and poultry stews, along with oranges, melons, tomatoes, and a variety of peppers.
New ingredients were introduced and integrated into traditional Berber recipes as the region became more culturally diverse. Rich layers of flavour evolved into complex Moroccan dishes that couldn’t be found elsewhere. The Arabs introduced fragrant spices such as saffron, cumin, caraway, ginger, and cinnamon, while Jewish communities brought methods for pickling and preservation. The Spanish and Mediterranean cultures added their distinctive touches, and later, the French influence was also felt.
Couscous: A Culinary Treasure
Classic Moroccan cuisine begins with couscous. The traditional version of this North African staple is made by hand-rolling durum wheat semolina into tiny pellets and then steaming them for hours in a special pot until they are tender, after which they are fluffed. Couscous serves as a canvas for a dish, absorbing all the delicious ingredients and spices. Considered the quintessential Moroccan dish, it's taken so seriously that UNESCO recognizes it for its centuries as a tasty contributor to the country’s cultural heritage. It is more than a grain; it is a fundamental component in the structure of traditional Moroccan dishes.
Flavourful Recipes: The Magic of Tajine
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A tajine is more than just a conical earthenware cooking vessel. What truly makes it iconic are the ingredients cooked within, which are allowed to stew and simmer into heavenly flavours. At the El Khorbat restaurant, situated at the base of the historic Ksar El Khorbat, tajine is prepared with a variety of proteins, including beef, chicken, and even camel for the more adventurous. The dishes are made by the women of the Ksar, following traditional regional recipes and preserving the flavours of times past.
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Morocco’s traditional tajine slow-cooks meats, such as fish, lamb, beef, goat, or chicken, with fresh vegetables and preserved lemons in a rich tomato sauce, layered with onions, until they blend into a mouth-watering meal. The vibrant spice blends chefs add are unmatched for their depth of flavour. For example, the spice blend called ras el hanout, which translates to “head of the shop” in Arabic, combines a dozen fragrant spices to enhance the flavour of tajine. Recipes are often garnished with dried fruits, crunchy nuts, or olives and are always served with bread.
Unearthing Madfouna
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Madfouna is much more than a Moroccan pizza pocket. One bite of this rustic, traditional pizza will reveal to your taste buds why this indigenous Saharan culinary tradition has endured for countless generations. It’s made by stuffing a round flatbread with an assortment of ingredients such as onions, nuts, garlic, eggs, and spiced meats, along with a plethora of herbs and spices.
The madfouna is then buried in a sand fire pit and baked over hot stones until it’s crispy on the outside with a smoky, delicious center. Recipes and styles are passed down through generations, with “Berber pizza” recently becoming a shareable menu item at Moroccan fast-food joints. For an authentic experience, enjoy it like a nomad, cooked in view of the Sahara’s dunes.
Sipping Serenity: The Refreshing Allure of Mint Tea
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Morocco’s most popular beverage is green tea with mint. Across Morocco, the art of brewing tea is seen as a craft, and enjoying tea regularly with loved ones is a valued tradition. Making mint tea is a ritual where sprigs of fresh mint are stirred into a decorative metal teapot with water, loose gunpowder green tea, and sugar. After a careful series of meticulous steps, it is simmered to perfection, then poured from a dramatic height into small tea glasses. Mint tea is served steaming hot, but it’s also surprisingly refreshing on a sweltering day in Morocco.
This is just the beginning of a Moroccan culinary journey, where a world of tasty delights awaits with dishes full of flavour.
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Sweet pastries, seasoned dips, grilled fish, sizzling skewers, and crispy treats combine sweet, sour, and savoury elements, along with different textures, to enrich the dining experience. For an authentic experience, companies like Collette Tours offer tour packages that immerse you in Morocco’s culinary traditions. Bring your appetite because dining in Morocco is like tasting centuries of culinary history in every meal.
Discover more of what Morocco has to offer, here!