Food in Morocco

Typical dishes of Moroccan cuisine

Thanks to its truly special delicacies and sweet-salty taste, Moroccan cuisine has won the most diverse brand in all of North Africa. She was also influenced by Spanish, French and Senegalese cuisine, so there is no shortage of specialties. Delicious fish are taken from the sea and juicy fruits and vegetables grow at the foot of the mountains and in oases.

They like to eat healthily in Morocco and let’s face it, they have everything they need for this lifestyle. They like to mix sweet and savory flavors, so meat is often served with a sweet sauce or garnish. Dried fruits, rose water and orange blossom water are also used as “spices” for salty foods. When it comes to welcoming guests, they are not intimidated at all and put a ten-course menu on the table.

Harira Soup

Harira is a typical Moroccan, slightly sour tomato-based soup that you should definitely try if you are in Morocco, because it is the most typical dish of local cuisine. You can even find minced meat, chickpeas and lentils in it. At first glance it may look like a light soup, but the look is deceptive. It has a very dense structure and is served with bread, so we recommend it as a main course. By the way, you can order from this delicacy for less than 1 GBP. It was originally consumed during Ramadan after the end of the daily fast, then also on famous holidays and weddings.

Tajine

This specialty needs to be tasted. Tajine, the famous slow-cooked Moroccan “goulash”, named after the traditional clay or ceramic pot in which it is made. It’s weird because the food doesn’t cook or fry in it, but it evaporates. And because it is produced slowly in steam, it retains the benefits of vitamin content and does not lose its taste. Tajinet / tazini / is traditionally consumed directly from dishes. It is a national dish that, like couscous, is cooked in various variants. Delicious sauce with different vegetables, meat, fish and spices. Combinations can only be limited by imagination.

Bastila / Pastilla

A spicy “pie” whose taste seems almost unthinkable to put into words, love for the first bite. It was traditionally made from pigeon meat, today it is mostly made from chicken cooked in saffron, ginger, pepper and cinnamon sauce. It is filled into Warq dough, layered with eggs and roasted almonds. Absolutely amazing taste and texture! Another version is the salty sea scallop.

Brochette

Pieces of meat pierced with skewers or needles, grilled on fire or charcoal. The best ones include chicken, beef or lamb.

Kefta

In the name of Keft, Moroccans call minced meatballs spiced with cumin. There are only meatballs without sauce, which are inserted into the sandwich, there is a potato version with tomato sauce, but the most popular are tomatoes poached in tajine.

Poulett

Chicken made in the aforementioned tajine (clay ceramic pot), which can be prepared in many different combinations. One of the favorite Moroccan chicken recipes is spicy stewed chicken drizzled with lemon, honey, raisins and almonds.

Kebab

Kebab, denotes a variety of grilled dishes from pre-Eastern cuisine. So kebab is not like a kebab. This is based on Moroccan spices and minced lamb with a delicious brown sauce.

Briouats

Fried puff pastry in the shape of a triangle or crescent, called warqa, is filled with a variety of fillings, such as spicy lamb or goat cheese. The peculiarity is that it is also perfect as a dessert when filled with almond cream, for example.

Mint tea

One of the basic elements of Moroccan culture is mint tea. Wherever you go in Morocco, you will find cafes full of men drinking coffee or mint tea. We often wonder why in countries where the heat wave last for months, people drink hot tea. Drinking hot tea deceives the body’s feeling of warmth. One begins to sweat and sweating cools the body. There was also a small ceremony of Moroccan mint tea. If we order green tea somewhere, it is brought in a jug. Pour the tea into our glass cup and then add fresh mint and sugar. We need to know that Moroccans are drinking very sweet tea, so we won’t be surprised if they bring us a cup of tea, add a full sugar bowl.

Food prices in Morocco

It is best to shop or eat at local markets, which you will find everywhere in big cities, but also in smaller villages. In the markets, prices are very low, and many times cheaper than at home. For example, you can get a kilo of oranges for 0,2 GBP, peanuts for 0,3 GBP, pastries for 0,1 GBP. Local small shops are also cheap. Alcohol is only sold in specialist shops, but you can also find it in Carrefour. In restaurants, however, expect much higher prices, especially alcohol is very expensive.

For orientation, here are a few examples of prices:

1 MAD (dirham)= 0,08 GBP

• Sardines - about 10 fish for 10MAD
• Moroccan salad and bread - 6MAD
• Brochette (skewers) - chicken, beef: about 25-35 MAD
• Moroccan salad (tomato, onion, pepper, vinegar - delicious, refreshing): 5 - 20 MAD
• Pancake with honey on the market: 5-8 MAD
• Pain au chocolate: 1 MAD
• Arabic bread: 1 MAD
• Tajine - beef, with fish (seldom there is a lot of meat): about 25-35 MAD
• Large baguette: 1.5 MAD
• Kiri processed cheese: 13 MAD (whole package)
• Moroccan honey: 20 - 25 MAD (common in the store)
• Moroccan olive oil (1 liter): 45 - 55 MAD
• 1.5 liters of water (shop): 5 MAD
• 5 liters of water (shop): 10 MAD
• 0.5l Coca Cola (shop): 5 MAD
• 0.5l fruit juice (strawberry, kiwi, orange): 8 - 12 MAD
• Espresso: 6 - 8 MAD
• Café au lait (coffee with milk): 10 MAD
• 1 teapot: 5 MAD
• Bottle of Moroccan wine: 60 MAD
• Moroccan beer: 5 MAD

Where you can best find yourself in Morocco

Start your morning at the Patisserie, founded in French colonial times. In such small French bakeries there is a huge selection of cheap and very tasty pastries. Even local restaurants are not particularly expensive. We don’t even have to emphasize a specific restaurant, just go down the mysterious narrow streets and we guarantee that you will not be disappointed by the local cozy restaurants. If you are visiting Marrakech, don’t miss the Jad Jamal restaurant in Ben Youssef Square. It is an oasis of calm in the middle of the constantly busy medina.

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