Moroccan cuisine is as diverse and rich as its culture, blending Berber, Arabic, and Mediterranean influences to create unique flavors and textures. When you visit Morocco, experiencing its food and drink is a must. From traditional tagines and couscous to mint tea and fresh juices, this culinary journey will not only satisfy your taste buds but also offer an immersive experience into Morocco’s heritage. Let’s explore 25 Moroccan dishes and drinks that you absolutely need to try during your visit.
1. Tagine: A Moroccan Classic
Tagine is the quintessential Moroccan dish, named after the earthenware pot it’s cooked in. This slow-cooked stew typically features meat—usually lamb, chicken, or beef — paired with vegetables, dried fruits, and an array of Moroccan spices like cumin, saffron, ginger, and cinnamon. The unique design of the tagine pot helps to retain moisture, resulting in tender meat and rich flavors.
Where to Try It: Tagines are available almost everywhere in Morocco, from street food stalls to high-end restaurants. Cities like Marrakech, Fez, and Casablanca offer an array of delicious tagine varieties.
2. Couscous: The Staple Grain Dish
Known locally as kesksu and/or seksu, couscous is a staple in Moroccan households, traditionally eaten on Fridays after the midday prayers. This steamed semolina dish is served with vegetables like carrots, zucchini, and potatoes, as well as lamb, chicken, or beef. It is often flavored with Moroccan spices and broth, creating a hearty and satisfying meal.
Where to Try It: You can enjoy couscous in most Moroccan restaurants, especially on Fridays. For an authentic experience, some homestay options will offer a traditional couscous meal prepared by the host family.
3. Harira: The Hearty Soup
Harira is a delicious tomato-based soup made with lentils, chickpeas, and a variety of Moroccan spices such as ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric. It is particularly popular during Ramadan, as it’s often served to break the fast. However, you can find it year-round in most Moroccan cities.
Where to Try It: Look for harira in local cafes and street food stalls, especially during Ramadan. It’s often served with dates and traditional bread.
4. Bastilla (Pastilla): Sweet Meets Savory
Bastilla is a savory pie traditionally made with pigeon or chicken, layered with spiced meat, eggs, and almonds, wrapped in thin phyllo pastry, and dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon. The result is a harmonious blend of sweet and savory flavors.
Where to Try It: Fez is particularly known for bastilla, and you’ll find it in traditional restaurants throughout the city.
5. Mechoui: Slow-Roasted Lamb
Mechoui is a slow-roasted lamb dish, often prepared for special occasions and festivals. The lamb is seasoned with Moroccan spices like cumin and coriander, then cooked until it’s tender and falls off the bone.
Where to Try It: You can find mechoui in traditional restaurants and street stalls, particularly in cities like Marrakech during festivities.
6. Zaalouk: A Flavorful Salad
Zaalouk is a popular Moroccan salad made from eggplant and tomatoes, mashed and seasoned with garlic, cumin, paprika, and olive oil. It’s often served as a side dish or appetizer with crusty bread.
Where to Try It: Zaalouk is a common dish in most traditional Moroccan restaurants, often paired with couscous or tagine.
7. Bissara: The Breakfast Soup
Bissara is a simple but filling fava bean soup, often eaten for breakfast in Morocco. It’s topped with olive oil and cumin and served with fresh bread. This budget-friendly dish is beloved by locals for its simplicity and flavor.
Where to Try It: Street food stalls and small cafes in cities like Rabat and Casablanca often serve bissara, especially in the mornings.
8. Brochettes: Moroccan Kebabs
Brochettes are skewers of grilled meat, commonly lamb, chicken, or beef, seasoned with Moroccan spices and grilled to perfection. They are often served with khobz (Moroccan flatbread) and harissa (chili paste).
Where to Try It: Brochettes are a popular street food in Morocco, and you’ll find them at food stalls in places like Djemaa el-Fna in Marrakech.
9. Tanjia: A Marrakesh Specialty
Tanjia is a slow-cooked meat dish, traditionally prepared by men in Marrakesh. The meat is marinated with garlic, cumin, and preserved lemon, then slow-cooked in a clay pot in communal ovens or hammams.
Where to Try It: Marrakesh is the best place to try this dish, and it’s often available in both restaurants and street food stalls.
10. Maghrebi Mint Tea: The National Drink
Mint tea, affectionately called "Moroccan whiskey," is the country’s most famous drink. Made with green tea, fresh mint, and sugar, it’s served hot throughout the day and is a symbol of Moroccan hospitality.
Where to Try It: Mint tea is ubiquitous in Morocco, from street vendors to upscale cafes. It’s often served as a welcoming gesture when entering a hotel, restaurant, or home.
11. Moroccan Coffee: Strong and Aromatic
Moroccan coffee is typically brewed strong, sometimes flavored with cardamom or cinnamon. It’s often served alongside mint tea, especially in urban areas like Casablanca and Rabat.
Where to Try It: Moroccan coffee can be enjoyed in cafes throughout the country, particularly in cities with a strong café culture like Casablanca.
12. Jus d'Orange: Refreshingly Fresh Orange Juice
Morocco’s oranges are some of the best in the world, and freshly squeezed orange juice, known as Jus d'Orange, is a common refreshment found throughout the country.
Where to Try It: Street vendors in Marrakesh’s Djemaa el-Fna and markets across Morocco sell freshly squeezed orange juice for a refreshing treat on a hot day.
13. Avocado Smoothie: A Moroccan Delight
Avocado smoothies, sometimes mixed with almonds or dates, are becoming increasingly popular in Morocco, especially among health-conscious travelers.
Where to Try It: Juice bars and cafes in cities like Marrakech and Fez often serve avocado smoothies.
14. Cornes de Gazelle: Sweet Almond Cookies
Cornes de Gazelle, or "gazelle horns," are crescent-shaped pastries stuffed with almond paste and flavored with orange blossom water. They are often served with tea and are a staple of Moroccan sweets.
Where to Try It: These delicious pastries are available at most bakeries and patisseries across Morocco.
15. Shebakia: Honey-Drenched Treat
Shebakia is a deep-fried pastry made from sesame and honey, often served during Ramadan. It’s sweet, sticky, and incredibly moreish.
Where to Try It: Look for shebakia at street stalls, especially during Ramadan.
16. Moroccan Stuffed Peppers: A Vegetarian Delight
Moroccan stuffed peppers are filled with rice, nuts, dried fruits, and seasoned with Moroccan spices. This dish caters to both vegetarians and vegans, providing a flavorful and nutritious meal.
Where to Try It: Many restaurants in cities like Essaouira and Fez offer vegetarian and vegan options, including stuffed peppers.
17. Amlou: A Nutty Spread
Amlou is a traditional Moroccan spread made from argan oil, almonds, and honey. It’s often eaten with bread for breakfast or as a snack.
Where to Try It: Amlou is commonly found in markets and restaurants across Morocco, especially in regions where argan oil is produced.
18. Snail Soup: A Street Food Curiosity
Snail soup, or babbouche, is a popular street food in Morocco, especially in the cooler months. The snails are cooked in a spicy broth, which is also drunk for its purported health benefits.
Where to Try It: Street stalls in cities like Fez and Marrakech offer this unique dish, particularly in winter.
19. Camel Meat: A Local Delicacy
Camel meat is another delicacy in Morocco, particularly in desert regions. It’s often served in tagines or grilled as brochettes.
Where to Try It: Desert towns like Merzouga and Zagora are the best places to try camel meat.
20. Fresh Seafood in Essaouira
Essaouira is renowned for its fresh seafood, thanks to its location on the Atlantic coast. Grilled fish, calamari, and lobster are all popular dishes here.
Where to Try It: The fish markets and seaside restaurants in Essaouira are the go-to places for seafood lovers.
21. Moroccan Olives: A Flavorful Snack
Morocco is famous for its olives, and you’ll find a variety of green, black, and purple olives served as a side dish or snack throughout the country.
Where to Try It: Visit any Moroccan market to sample a variety of olives.
22. Spiced Nuts: A Quick Snack
Roasted and spiced nuts are a popular snack, often sold by street vendors. They make for a great on-the-go snack while exploring the cities.
Where to Try It: Street vendors across major cities like Fez, Rabat, and Casablanca sell spiced nuts in small paper cones.
23. Makrout: Date-Filled Delight
Makrout is a pastry made from semolina dough, filled with dates, and fried to perfection. It’s commonly enjoyed with tea.
Where to Try It: You can find makrout in most Moroccan bakeries and markets.
24. Sfenj: Moroccan Donuts
Sfenj is a deep-fried donut, usually enjoyed for breakfast or as a mid-morning snack with tea. It’s light, fluffy, and dusted with sugar.
Where to Try It: Street vendors and cafes across Morocco serve sfenj fresh and hot.
25. Rfissa: A Traditional Comfort Dish
Rfissa is a traditional Moroccan dish often served during family gatherings or special occasions. Made with shredded msemen (a type of Moroccan flatbread), chicken, lentils, and a flavorful broth seasoned with fenugreek, saffron, and other spices, Rfissa is the ultimate comfort food in Morocco. It’s hearty and satisfying, perfect for cooler weather or a cozy meal at home.
Where to Try It: Rfissa is usually prepared for special events, but you can find it in traditional restaurants, especially in cities like Casablanca and Fez, where home-cooked meals are often featured.
Morocco’s food and drink are deeply intertwined with its culture and history. From savory tagines and couscous to sweet mint tea and pastries, each dish tells a story. So, as you travel through this mesmerizing country, don’t miss the chance to explore its culinary landscape — it’s a journey in itself.