Morocco is well known and adored for it’s unique culture and heritage. No trip to Morocco is complete without a stargazing night in the desert, endless photos in colorful doorways, filling your bag full of gifts from the souks, or sampling the exotic Moroccan cuisine! Delicious combos of olives, lemon, and saffron boldly exude from every cafe. There are so many things to try but there are the top ten eats we recommend you don’t miss!
Things you’d never imagine mixing together like savory chicken pastries topped with sweet powdered sugar you’d never try at home but make perfect sense once you taste. The best part of traveling is experiencing the local culture and in Morocco, the food is a large part of it!
We also recommend making time to take a Moroccan cooking class so you can take your adventures home with you and recreate your memories!
Read on below for our top 10 must eats in Morocco!
- TAGINE
Tagine is one of the most common dishes you’ll see on your journey. It’s a clay cooking pot with a conical lid with multiple types of dishes slow cooked inside (beef, lamb, chicken, veggies, etc). You can get it practically anywhere, at roadside stops, cafés, and nicer restaurants. - OLIVES
Morocco is the 5th largest producer and exporter of olive oil in the world. Don’t be surprised if you’re greeted at every meal with a little bowl of spiced olives and if they’re somehow in pretty much every meal you have. If you’re not an olive lover, better get used to picking them out of your food! - BRIOUATS
Similar to samosas, briouats are a sweet or savory stuffing wrapped in warqa (filo dough) and fried. The stuffing is generally some sort of meat like chicken or beef, or simply cheese or vegetables. In our favorite variety, they can be served with a sweet filling and served as dessert. - HARIRA SOUP
Often consumed during the month of Ramadan, this tasty tomato based soup is filled with noodles or rice along with chickpeas and a mix of spices, and is said to be “the soup of Morocco”. - COUSCOUS
Couscous is prepared weekly in many Moroccan homes. Lamb, beef or chicken is stewed along with a variety of vegetables then arranged on a heap of tender, steamed couscous grains. In Morocco, many dishes are served “family style,” as we call it in the states, one big dish with everyone gathered around to share! - RFISSA
There may be nothing elegant about pouring hot meat and broth over a plateful of bread, yet around the world such humble fare is regarded as savory, satisfying comfort food at its best. In Morocco it takes the form of Rfissa, a spectacular presentation of stewed chicken and lentils fragrantly seasoned with fenugreek, saffron and Ras el Hanout. The dish is famously served to new mothers, but it’s also a popular specialty dish to offer to family or guests on other occasions. - MECHOUI
Moroccan roasted lamb, referred to as mechoui, is best sampled in Marrakesh, where whole lamb is roasted in deep pits with smoldering araar wood. The lamb is usually roasted on a spit, and is often filled with organ meats, herbs, or fruits. - ZALOUK
Zalouk (also spelled zaalouk) is a common side dish and typically served with crusty bread. It is a Moroccan style salad made with eggplants, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and spices. - SNAIL SOUP
You’ll find stalls all over the country (but particularly in Jamaa El Fna in Marrakech) with steaming vats of snail soup and locals gathered around on tiny stools. You’ll pluck the snails from their shells with a toothpick and then sip the incredibly salty broth that many Moroccans believe is good for digestion and fever. - STUFFED MSEMEN
Basically stuffed Moroccan flatbread kneaded together with a mixture of peppers, onion, and tomato and then grilled, rolled, and served to-go! You can find a few street food msemen vendors around the medina in Marrakech.
There are so many things you MUST EAT in Morocco but these are our top ten. For more suggestions on what to do in this beautiful country, reach out to [email protected]