Best dishes Not to miss in Morocco

The best Moroccan food can be found in its homeland (Morocco), in the markets of Marrakesh and from the traditional recipes made by the local Berber people. Below, Most Important  Moroccan foods to try in during your stay in Morocco.

Tanjias

This dish is local to Marrakech, so can be found in the markets there. To make it, meat is slow-cooked for up to 12 hours in a tanjia pot – a tall jug-shaped clay pot. Beef is most commonly used but if you get the chance, we recommend lamb as it is delicious! Added spices and herbs such as saffron and turmeric give the dish a rich flavour alongside the tender meat.

Tagine

Not to be confused with a tanjia, this dish is made in a wide, covered clay pot. Whilst it’s also slow-cooked meat, this dish traditionally includes preserved fruits like prunes, lemon and olives. This dish is amongst the most common so you’ll probably try a lot of different variations on your Morocco trip. The most authentic and traditional tagines are cooked by the local Berber people, who we meet on many of our Morocco tours. You can even learn how to cook it with local family in the Atlas mountains .

Mint tea

Moroccan cuisine isn’t just about the food. Visit Morocco and you’ll likely drink a lot of mint tea! This is green tea steeped with fresh mint leaves and usually has added sugar to make it really sweet, served in a glass. Offering mint tea as a welcoming gesture is a part of Moroccan culture so you’ll be offered it a lot, whether you’re sitting to negotiate prices in the souk or meeting Berber people in the mountains. 

Chicken pastilla (or bastilla)

Chicken, almonds and spices like saffron and turmeric are stuffed into flaky filo pastry for this dish, making a sort of pie or pasty. Most commonly found in Fes, it often has sweet notes from cinnamon and a dusting of icing sugar. This combination of savoury and sweet results in a taste sensation not to be missed when you visit Morocco.

Moroccan Couscous

An authentic recipe for Moroccan Couscous with Seven Vegetables, the ultimate comfort food to enjoy with family and friends. Lamb, beef, or chicken is stewed with assorted veggies, then served atop a mound of light, fluffy steamed couscous. A rich broth seasoned with ginger, pepper and turmeric is poured over all or offered on the side.

Harira ( Soup )

During the holy month of Ramadan, the fast is broken at sunset each day with a steaming bowl of harira soup. Rich with tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas and lamb, it is finished off with a squeeze of lemon juice and some chopped coriander, and served with a sticky sweet pretzel called chebakkiya.