The cuisine in Morocco is as varied as the country’s landscape, in part due to numerous culinary influences such as Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Senegal, Turkey and the Berbers. Morocco imports very little food, so its Mediterranean spread of fruits and vegetables tend to be locally grown and fresh. Much of the country’s livestock is free range—picture cattle meandering in the mountains and valleys—resulting in fresh, flavorful meat.Although each region is known for its unique flavors and dishes, meals throughout the country commonly feature meats with veggies and are often spiced with cumin, cinnamon, saffron and paprika. This bouquet of flavors is woven into Morocco’s breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Cuisine In Morocco
Morocco is rated amongst the best in the world for its cuisine. Here we give you a taste of the wealth of Moroccan flavours that await you.
For Moroccans, a special meal means extensive preparation: a banquet for important guests may take a week to prepare and is overseen by the host and his sons with no women being present. The men squat on cushions around low, artistically laid tables and a silver ewer of perfumed water is taken around and poured over three fingers of the right hand of each guest before the meal starts and on finishing. There may be up to 50 different courses.
Usually it is the ladies of the house who cook the meals and they spend hours in the preparation. Again, there are no chairs but rolled carpets or cushions that serve as seats. The ladies dress in long colourful robes.
Every household in Morocco makes their own bread which is made from semolina flour. When the bread has been kneaded and shaped each family puts its own mark on it before sending it to the bakery for cooking.
A typical family meal starts with Bstilla which is a crisp pastry, rolled until it is extremely thin and filled with chicken in a mixture of a sweet and peppery sauce.
Next comes a typical brochette or kebab which is flavoured with beef or lamb fat. Following would be a Tajine which is chicken or a meat in a spicy stew which had been simmering for hours and served with bread. Next comes a course of Batinjaan, an eggplant or tomato salad.
Couscous, the national dish of Morocco, would then be served with meat and vegetables followed by slices of melon or fruit and pastries made with honey and almonds. Mint tea is then served at the end of the meal.
Key Ingredients in Moroccan Cuisine
Moroccan cuisine is rich in spices which only natural when you consider the spice trade from Arabia to North Africa. Spices here are used to enhance and not mask the flavour of food. The following spices are among the most commonly used.
Cinnamon – which is found in Bisteeya, Couscous and many desserts
Cumin - ground cumin is among the most highly flavoured spice used and is common in meats, lamb and chicken
Turmeric - always found in Harira soup which is a soup drunk for the evening meal during Ramadan
Ginger - found in many stews
Paprika - usually in tomato and vegetable dishes
Anise seed - found in breads and cookies
Sesame seed - used in breads and desserts
