Moroccan cuisine is all about aromatic spices and flavour. Influenced by Arabia, Spain and France, this unique fusion of culture has resulted in the creation of some true culinary delights. I am a bit spice shy when it comes to food, but I was relieved to find that there is plenty in Morocco for those of us who don’t like it hot. Here are my top picks of the best food and drink to try in the country.
- Contents show
Harira Soup
The core ingredients of this wonderfully versatile soup are chickpeas, lentils and tomatoes, though it is not uncommon for beans and celery to be added into the mix. Harira soup is most commonly served during Ramadan but luckily for you, it can be found on menus all year round. Best served with freshly baked bread, the spices in the soup make for a pleasantly warming dish. Meat-free versions are easy to come by throughout Morocco, so Harira soup is a veggie favourite.
Berber Whisky
Owing to Morocco’s largely Muslim population, Berber whisky is a rather misleading name for what is in fact, mint tea. This drink is at the core of Moroccan hospitality and no social occasion is complete without it. Unlike the mint tea that we have at home, it is packed full of sugar which turns it into blissfully sweet syrup. As someone who has always hated tea, this had me converted. Read about me making my peace with tea here.
Tagine
The classic tagine is probably the first thing that springs to mind for most people when they think of Moroccan cuisine. A tagine is a lightly spiced casserole which gets its name from the earthenware pot in which it is cooked. There are many different types of tagines available throughout Morocco, including vegetarian options. During our time in Marrakech, we learnt how to cook a chicken and preserved lemon tagine, although my favourite is Kefta (meatballs) and egg.
Orange Juice
This seems a weird one for me to include as you can get it pretty much anywhere. Whilst this is true to some degree, the OJ in Morocco is second to none owing to their vast abundance of orange trees. If you’re saying in Marrakech, head down to Jemaa El Fna to watch the oranges be freshly squeezed before your eyes, then gulp down the most refreshing nectar you will find.
Ghriba
Ghriba was perhaps my favourite foodie find of the trip. These delicious macaroon-like cookies have a crispy exterior with a wonderfully chewy inner and a faint hint of coconut. They are sold all over Morocco, usually by street vendors who walk the pavements in search of tourists. At around 1DH each, they are super cheap which means you can buy them by the stack load!
What do you think of Moroccan cuisine? What are your favourite dishes?
Love it? Pin it! 🙂
This post has got my taste buds tingling! I love tagine, so I’m really looking foward to eating loads of that – but also excited about trying all the other new things!
The tagine there is sooo good but the highlight for me was still the tea. As a Brit who had never drunk tea prior to this trip, it’s fair to say it was a bit of a game changer for me!