When you think of Moroccan cuisine, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s the aroma of spices like cumin, cinnamon, and coriander wafting from a tagine. Or the sight of fluffy couscous and tender lamb shanks. Or maybe it’s the memory of sipping mint tea while nibbling on honey-drenched pastries.
But Moroccan cuisine is much more than just these well-known dishes. It’s a melting pot of flavors and influences from North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. The cuisine is also influenced by Morocco’s history as a former French and Spanish colony.
One of the defining characteristics of Moroccan cuisine is the use of spices. Spices like ras el hanout, a blend of up to 30 different spices, and harissa, a fiery chili paste, are essential ingredients in many dishes. Meat dishes like tagines, stews cooked in a conical clay pot, are often flavored with a combination of sweet and savory spices.
Vegetarian and vegan options are also abundant in Moroccan cuisine. Dishes like zaalouk, a roasted eggplant and tomato salad, and taktouka, a spicy roasted pepper and tomato salad, are common starters. And don’t forget about the ubiquitous couscous, which can be served with vegetables or as a hearty main dish with meat or fish.
No Moroccan meal is complete without something sweet. The country’s famous pastries, like the sticky-sweet honey-soaked baklava-like b’stilla, are the perfect end to a meal. And of course, there’s the ubiquitous mint tea, which is not only a refreshing drink but also a symbol of hospitality.
