My 8 Easy Moroccan Recipes any Cook Can Make - MarocMama (2024)

A lot of people are afraid to start cooking Moroccan food. They want an easy Moroccan recipe. One that’s fool proof and doesn’t have 27 spices to add. Been there, done that! When MarocBaba and I were first married I could barely cook an egg.

Our diet consisted of; eggs (remember I said barely!), hot dogs, and Kraft mac and cheese. Let’s just say coming from home where his mom and/or six sisters would always have a homemade meal three times a day it was quite a rude awakening. “What do you mean you don’t like freezer meals,” I asked. “They’re homemade, I made them in our home!” Not what he was after.

Our Moroccan food adventures were trial and error, emphasis on the error. We’d call and have someone walk us through simple recipes. I’d fiddle with cookbooks and try recipe after recipe. Many were miserable fails, but eventually I got the hang of it.

So many people in Morocco are surprised when they ask if I can make a Moroccan dish or two and I tell them, I can in fact make most all Moroccan dishes. MashAllah they tell me. It’s not magic my friends, I just had years or practice and a very patient husband.

But, not everyone has the time, energy, or desire to learn all the dishes. For you, I put together these eight dishes that really are very simple to make. They don’t have a lot of ingredients but do read through each before you start so that you have an idea of the process. Then let me know which you tried!

Cinnamony Sweet Moroccan Orange Salad

This is possibly the easiest Moroccan recipe you can make because it requires no cooking at all. In winter oranges are everywhere in Morocco. There’s a guy outside my door who sells kilos of them all winter long. So it makes sense that we eat a lot and they’re the defacto winter dessert on restaurant menus. Super simple.

My 8 Easy Moroccan Recipes any Cook Can Make - MarocMama (2)

B’ssara– Fava Bean Soup

I love winter in Morocco for this soup alone. It’s our go to meal for breakfast or lunch during cold months. It’s also easy to make in a pressure cooker or slow cooker (just get this instant potMy 8 Easy Moroccan Recipes any Cook Can Make - MarocMama (3) and you’ll be set). Really good olive oil to drizzle on top as well as cumin and paprika if you desire. So good. So so good.

Moroccan Carrot Salad

There are countless Moroccan salads, but this is one of the easiest. You can swap out the carrots for any cooked, seasonal vegetable and use the same dressing.

Moroccan Fish Recipe: Hout Quari

So hear me out on this one. If you really dislike fish, you won’t like this. But if you do like it then give it a try – really. Fresh sardines are used to make the little fish meatballs and the condiments take it up a notch. You could use any fish really; from salmon to trout or whitefish. Trust me, this is a good one.

My 8 Easy Moroccan Recipes any Cook Can Make - MarocMama (6)

Slow Cooker Moroccan Beef and Green Bean Tagine

One thing I wish I had in Morocco is a good slow cookerMy 8 Easy Moroccan Recipes any Cook Can Make - MarocMama (7)but the pressure cooker is the preferred tool. This recipe is really quick to put together and everyone will enjoy it. It’s also very economical as you can opt for a cheaper cut of meat due to the long cooking time that will make it nice and tender.

My 8 Easy Moroccan Recipes any Cook Can Make - MarocMama (8)

Making Marrakechi Tangia at Home

Tangia is the official dish of Marrakech. So many Moroccans ask me if I know how to make tangia when they find out I live in Marrakech. Of course I know how to make it and you can too. A handful of ingredients and a pressure cookerMy 8 Easy Moroccan Recipes any Cook Can Make - MarocMama (9) will have you on your way. Of course you can always opt for the clay tangia if you have one laying around!

My 8 Easy Moroccan Recipes any Cook Can Make - MarocMama (10)

Roasted Moroccan Rack of Lamb

Does the thought of cooking a rack of lamb make you tremble? Don’t let it! This super simple Moroccan recipe will make everyone think you’re a top chef! The ingredients are minimal and the flavor is to die for. I wish I had some of this right now.

My 8 Easy Moroccan Recipes any Cook Can Make - MarocMama (11)

Moroccan Chocolate Cake

Everyone needs some dessert and this cake is really easy to make. Just a few ingredients and pop it in your oven. Honestly, I don’t bake and this is an easy, go-to recipe!

My 8 Easy Moroccan Recipes any Cook Can Make - MarocMama (12)

Go out and create – then let me know what you made!

My 8 Easy Moroccan Recipes any Cook Can Make - MarocMama (2024)

FAQs

What is the favorite dish of Morocco? ›

Couscous. Known as Morocco's most popular dish, the Couscous tops our list of the top ten best Moroccan food & dishes. The couscous is made from crushed steamed wheat, and it is served with a spicy stew that contains a lot of meat.

What is the most traditional ingredient in Morocco cooking? ›

Couscous. couscous is more than an essential to Moroccan cooking, it is the national dish! It is traditionally made using semolina, but can also be made from barley or wheat.

What vegetables do Moroccans eat? ›

Popular fruits and vegetables are: apricots, artichokes, cabbage, cardoons, cauliflower, fennel, grapes, lemons, olives, oranges, peaches, peppers, plums, pomegranates, pumpkins, quinces, tomatoes, turnips, and zucchini. Moroccan cuisine uses many spices and herbs, especially cilantro.

What spices are commonly used in Morocco? ›

Common spices used in Moroccan cuisine

The four most basic spices used in Moroccan cooking are cumin, black pepper, ginger and turmeric. Other common spices found in many dishes are saffron, paprika, cayenne, chilli (harissa), cinnamon, and sometimes white pepper.

What is the most eaten meat in Morocco? ›

Main dishes

Couscous with vegetables, meat, and tfaya, a confection of caramelized onions, raisins, sugar, butter, and cinnamon. The main Moroccan dish people are most familiar with is couscous; lamb is the most commonly eaten meat in Morocco, usually eaten in a tagine with a wide selection of vegetables.

What is Morocco's national dish? ›

Couscous is considered Morocco's national dish

Steamed above a pot of boiling vegetables, the dish is fluffed by hand for an hour or more to make sure the end result is up to scratch. Served with aubergines, onion and any other vegetable that takes your fancy, it not only tastes great but is super healthy too.

What food is unique to Morocco? ›

Here are our 5 must-try authentic Moroccan foods to try in Morocco.
  • Tanjia. This dish is local to Marrakech, so can be found in the markets there. ...
  • Chicken pastilla (or bastilla) ...
  • Tagine. ...
  • Freshly caught fish. ...
  • Mint tea.

What are the 4 spices in Morocco? ›

There are four basic spices every Moroccan kitchen must have in order to prepare basic meat and vegetable tagines and stews.
  • Salt.
  • Pepper.
  • Ginger.
  • Turmeric.
Oct 2, 2019

What is the most famous spice in Morocco? ›

  • Saffron (saffron hair) Saffron is one of the most famous spices in the world, which is undoubtedly a global culinary flavor. ...
  • Ras El Hanout. If you want to bring home some Moroccan flavors, Ras El Hanout is the perfect treat for you. ...
  • Black pepper, ...
  • Turmeric. ...
  • Fenugreek seeds. ...
  • Cumin. ...
  • Ginger. ...
  • cinnamon.
Dec 12, 2022

What fruit is Morocco known for? ›

Persimmon, carob, figs, olives,oranges, mandarins, pear, melons, plums, nectarines, dates, strawberry, lemon, apples, pomegranate, watermelon, grapes, banana, cherries, dragon fruit, cactus-fruit, peaches, avocado, mangoes.

What is the best fish to eat in Morocco? ›

As for the fish appreciated by Moroccans, I quote the sacrosanct sardine whose reputation goes beyond the borders of the country, mackerel, hake, whiting, sole, pandora, sea bream to name only the most consumed.

What fruit do they eat in Morocco? ›

FRUITS AND NUTS

Freshly squeezed juices, especially orange, are popular, and so are dates, traditionally used to break the Ramadan fast – Morocco boasts more than 100 types. You'll also find almonds, walnuts, pistachios and pine nuts roasted and salted, dipped in honey and rolled in sesame seeds, or stuffed into dates.

What is the king of spices in Morocco? ›

COMMON USES: A Moroccon spice mix, Ras El Hanout is the best seasoning spice for marinating meat and adding flavor to stews. With its great aroma and taste, it is mostly called the “king of spices”.

What is the most expensive spice in Morocco? ›

Organic saffron from Taliouine, the red gold of Morocco! the most expensive spice in the world!

Can you drink alcohol in Morocco? ›

Morocco is quite a liberal country in comparison to other Muslim nations, but there are still some important differences to bear in mind if it is your first time here. Is Morocco a dry country? Morocco allows the consumption of alcohol. Alcohol must be purchased and consumed in licensed hotels, bars, and tourist areas.

What is the most popular drink in Morocco? ›

Mint tea. Morocco's signature drink is more than refreshing. Mint tea is served with reverence, as a gesture of hospitality and welcome that warms both the mouth and the heart.

What is the local food in Morocco? ›

Savor Morocco's national dish, couscous

Couscous is served with an array of vegetables – seksu bedawi, hailing from Casablanca, includes cabbage, carrots, courgettes, onions, potatoes, pumpkin, and squash – or a mix of meat or chicken and vegetables, all accompanied by a flavorsome broth that soaks into the couscous.

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