Moroccan Cuisine: What (and Where) to Eat

Morocco is a sensory feast, and food is no exception. Its cuisine is bold and brightly colourful, not to mention deeply satisfying. Sweet and savory tagines, crispy pastries and spiced teas are all a unique blend of Berber, Arab, and Mediterranean influences. Moroccan food will give you just the taste that you are in a need of, whether it’s a family style meal or you don’t have the time to wait, so basically, it offers you one bite delicious journey every time.

You are ready to explore Morocco’s rich flavor with your Moroccan Visa. If you are planning your trip from the UAE, then getting a Moroccan Visa from UAE is very simple and easy. From there, our exploration was limited to what and where to eat in Morocco and we intend to help with that.

Here’s Moroccan Cuisine: What to Eat (and Where)

1. Tagine

Morocco’s most iconic dish, tagine is slow cooked in a cone shaped clay pot. You can make it with lamb, chicken, fish, or vegetables, and it can be served with olives, dried fruits, nuts or preserved lemons. The result is tender, juicy and full of deep spiced flavor. Tagine is daily standard and festive dish, rich, soulful and very Moroccan. It’s often served with bread, not rice.

Where to eat:  

• Dar Yacout
• Cafe Clock

2. Couscous

Friday Morocco’s beloved couscous tradition, served after prayers, communal meal. Spiced meat, carrots, chickpeas, zucchini and pumpkin are piled on top of the steamed semolina grains, then drenched in a savory broth. It is a bit light, but at the same time, it is quite hearty, and it brings families together. Couscous feels special  a labor of love that is worth it when it comes to taste and warmth, the long process of steaming and layering flavors.

Where to eat:

• Le Tobsil
• Restaurant Dar Hatim

3. Pastilla

It is a savory and sweet pastry made with delicate warqa dough filled with shredded chicken or pigeon, almonds and spices topped with cinnamon and powdered sugar. The exterior is flaky, the interior is rich and nutty, making it a flavor explosion that most first timers don’t expect. This is a typically wedding and special event dish, and a great dish for anyone wanting to try out Morocco’s sweet and savory fusion.

Where to eat: 

• Riad Rcif
• Al Fassia

4. Harira

Harira is a warm and hearty soup made of tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, small bits of lamb or beef. It is a comforting bowl, thickened with flour and flavored with cinnamon, ginger and herbs, and is commonly served during Ramadan to break the fast. However, you can expect it all year round as a good starter or light meal. Harira is deeply nourishing and completely satisfying a bowl of authentic comfort food.

Where to eat:

• Cafe des Epices
• Cafe Clock

5. Moroccan Mint Tea

Mint tea is more than just a drink it’s a custom of daily ritual and symbol of warmth and hospitality. It is prepared with Chinese green tea, fresh mint leaves, and plenty of sugar, served in ornate glasses and poured from a great height to make bubbles. After a meal or while relaxing in a souk, this is a refreshingly sweet drink. The cycle goes as one cup leads to another and it’s always served with a smile.

Where to drink: 

• Nomad
• Riad rooftops in Tangier

6. Mechoui

Mechoui is whole lamb slow roasted in cumin and salt to golden, silken perfection. The meat is tender and falls off the bone, and it’s cooked in a clay oven or over open flames. It is often eaten with your hands and you’re a communal dish, one asking you to share and to enjoy bold flavor. Fresh and hot, straight from the fire, smoky, rustic, and unforgettable, Mechoui is best enjoyed.

Where to eat: 

• Mechoui Alley

7. Zaalouk

Zaalouk is a wonderful eggplant and tomato dip with garlic, olive oil, cumin and paprika. Served cold, it is usually served as a cold starter or side dish, scooped up with fresh Moroccan bread. Zaalouk is a healthy and flavorful smoky, silky, spiced just right. Simple in appearance, it is one of the most popular mezze plates and you will find it at almost every Moroccan table.

Where to eat: 

• Le Jardin
• Cafe Clock

8. Street Food (Briouats, Snail Soup & More)

Morocco’s streets are sizzling, crispy and spicy. Meat and cheese are best served in Briouats, the small fried pastries. Snail soup is for the adventurous, believed to be very beneficial to the digestive system. The stalls are also lined with grilled sardines, spicy potato fritters and spiced liver sandwiches. Fast, flavorful and a true taste of Moroccan everyday eats.

Where to eat: 

• Jemaa el-Fnaa
• Medina of Casablanca

Conclusion

Moroccan cuisine feels like unwrapping a gift every day because each dish is a gift of tradition, history and a portion of spice. Morocco’s food is all about warmth and flavor and sharing – whether you’re eating it in a nice riad as you indulge on a tagine or on the street munching up some medina snacks.

Before you delve in, be sure your travel plans are in order with a Moroccan visa. The Moroccan Visa from UAE is easy and convenient if you are based in the UAE. A foodie is once inside, just follow your craving, as Morocco awaits you and your taste buds with a table full of unforgettable and flavors.