Moroccan Food – Traditional Dishes & Recipes

Want to cook some traditional Moroccan food? Moroccan food is both delicious and tasty with its various spices, herbs and fresh ingredients.

There are many interesting dishes to taste in Morocco, and down below you have some tips on 10 traditional dishes that you can taste when you’re in Morocco.

Couscous

Couscous is Morocco’s national dish and is something you have to taste while you’re in the country. In Morocco, you eat Couscous together with cooked vegetables and meat – which is a really good combination.

When it comes to Moroccan food, this is a dish you have to taste.

Couscous

Tanjia

Tanjia is a common Moroccan food to eat in Marrakesh and is a dish made from beef, chicken or lamb, and lots of spices.

The meat is cooked in a clay pot during a long time to get tasty and tender meat.

Tanjia Moroccan food
Photo: Evgeni Zotov/Flickr

Moroccan Chicken Pie

Moroccan chicken pie is a delicious dish from Morocco that you have to taste. It’s a pie made of crispy phyllo dough, chicken, roasted almonds and spices.

It’s a Moroccan food that’s commonly served during various holidays and festivities, but it can also be served at restaurants in the country.

Moroccan chicken pie

Rfissa

A classic dish from Morocco is Rfissa. It’s commonly eaten during celebrations and holidays in the country. It’s a dish made from lentils, chicken, fenugreek, ras el hanout and msemmen.

Rfissa is topped with fruits, nuts and quail eggs before serving. It’s a dish that looks quite festive, and is therefore quite popular to serve during festive occasions.

Rfissa

Tagine

Tagine is a pot made of clay or ceramic and is used to cook traditional Moroccan food. There are several dishes from Morocco that are cooked in a Tagine.

Some tagine dishes to taste are; Berber Tagine, Vegetarian Tagine, and those made with lamb, chicken, beef and a variety of vegetables.

Tagine

Brochettes

This is a Moroccan dish that’s similar to kebab. Brochettes is made from meat that has been grilled on skewers (chicken, lamb or beef) and can be served together with bread and harissa, or as it is.

It’s a common street food in Morocco that’s very affordable. You can get a meal of brochettes for 20 Moroccan dirham, which is equivalent to about 2 USD.

Moroccan food

Zaalouk

Zaalouk is a tasty salad made with tomatoes, eggplant, olive oil, garlic and various spices. It’s a common side dish to order at restaurants and is often eaten with Moroccan bread.

This is one of the Moroccan dishes that’s vegetarian, vegan and gluten free!

Zaalouk

Kefta

Moroccan meatballs, also known as kefta, is a classic dish in Morocco. The meatballs are made from ground beef or minced lamb mixed with a variety of spices.

Coriander, cumin, parsley and pepper are used to make kefta. Some recipes also include mint, cayenne pepper and cinnamon in the recipe.

When it comes to Moroccan food, kefta is a must to taste.

Moroccan meatballs Kefta

Khobz

Something that’s served with most meals in Morocco is bread. It’s a big part of the Moroccan cuisine.

Khobz is a common bread in Morocco that is very tasty. It’s baked in a wood-fired oven and served with a variety of local dishes.

Khobz

Harira

A soup that you have to taste in Morocco is Harira. It’s a soup made from chickpeas, lentils and beef or lamb stock.

It’s a tasty soup that’s usually eaten during Ramadan to break the fast. Sometimes chaariya (noodles) are added to the recipe to make the dish a little bit more filling.

Moroccan food

More about Moroccan food

The Moroccan cuisine is both tasty and colorful. Common ingredients in Moroccan food include meat (beef, lamb, chicken, seafood), olive oil, couscous, and various spices and herbs.

The local dishes are often spiced with mint, parsley, coriander, peppermint, turmeric, oregano, sage, verbena and bay leaves.

Bread, couscous, salad, vegetables and Moroccan mint tea are usually served with Moroccan food.

What is Morocco’s national dish?

Couscous is Morocco’s national dish.

Do Moroccans eat with their hands?

Yes, many Moroccans eat the food with their hands. You eat with your first two fingers and thumb to grip the food.

Note that you only use your right hand to eat food. The left hand is used to pass various dishes around the table and also to pick up bread.

eat with hands

Are there any vegetarian Moroccan dishes?

Many Moroccan dishes either have meat or seafood in the recipes. However, some of the traditional dishes can be made vegetarian if you want to cook Moroccan food at home.

Zaalouk is a dish that vegetarians can eat, and also vegans and those who are gluten allergic.

What do they eat for breakfast in Morocco?

A typical Moroccan breakfast includes bread eaten with jam, olive oil, butter or cheese. Eggs, pancakes, olives and goat cheese are also common to be served for breakfast in Morocco.

What spices are used in Moroccan food?

Cinnamon, ginger, cumin, turmeric, peppers, saffron, coriander, cloves, sesame seeds and black pepper are common spices in Moroccan food.

Moroccan spices

Moroccan desserts

In Morocco, there are many delicious sweets and desserts to satisfy your cravings. Moroccan desserts are often made with dates, honey, cinnamon, figs, oranges, phyllo dough and other delicious ingredients.

Down below you have some tips on Moroccan desserts that you can taste in Morocco:

  • Seffa
  • Ghoriba
  • Chebakia
  • Sfenj
  • Sellou
  • M’hanncha
  • Baghir
  • Fekkas
  • Maamoul
  • Halwa dyal Makina
  • Kaab el ghazal
  • Baklava
  • Briouat

Moroccan desserts


Do you have more questions about Moroccan food? Leave a comment!

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