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Moroccan Food: Dishes to Try on Your Trip

Tagine, couscous, pastilla, harira, mint tea and more, with a few tips for eating well.

Overview

Moroccan cooking is built on slow cooking, spices and fresh ingredients, and it varies from city to city. Eating is a big part of any trip, and a few dishes are worth looking for.

Dishes to try

TagineA slow-cooked stew, named after the clay pot with a conical lid in which it is cooked. Common versions use chicken, lamb or vegetables, often with olives, preserved lemon or dried fruit.
CouscousSteamed semolina served with vegetables and meat. It is traditionally the Friday family meal.
PastillaA thin, flaky pastry filled with pigeon or chicken, almonds and spices, dusted with sugar and cinnamon. It mixes sweet and savoury.
HariraA thick tomato soup with lentils and chickpeas, eaten especially in the evening during Ramadan.
TanjiaA Marrakech dish of meat cooked slowly in a clay jar, traditionally in the embers of a hammam furnace.
ZaaloukA smoked aubergine and tomato salad, served as a starter with bread.
Msemen and baghrirFlat and pancake-like breads, eaten at breakfast with honey, butter or jam.
BriouatsSmall fried or baked pastries, with savoury or sweet fillings.

Mint tea

Moroccan mint tea is made with green tea, fresh mint and plenty of sugar, and it is poured from a height to make foam. It is a sign of welcome, and you will be offered it in homes, shops and hotels. Drinking at least one glass is polite.

Street food and markets

In the evening Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakech fills with stalls grilling meat, serving soup and frying fish. Markets in every city sell dates, olives, nuts and spices. Amlou, a spread made of almonds, argan oil and honey, is a good souvenir to take home.

Tips for eating well

  • Look for busy places: a high turnover usually means fresh food.
  • Vegetarian options exist, such as vegetable tagines and couscous with seven vegetables. Ask for them in advance on a tour.
  • Bread is used as cutlery, and eating with the right hand is the tradition.
  • Try the local dish in each city instead of repeating the same one.
  • Drink bottled water. See our guide Is It Safe to Travel to Morocco? for more on food and water.

Cooking classes

A cooking class in Marrakech or Fes is a good way to learn how these dishes are made. Most start at a market, where you choose the ingredients, and finish with a shared meal.

Plan it with us

If food is important to you, tell us and we will include meals and stops that suit your taste and any dietary needs.

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