Moroccan food is a combination of nomad and Syrian diets. It has also incorporated other influences over the centuries: Southern European (olives), French (tomatoes). The Moroccan pleasure in food is reflected in the amazing range of snacks. These range from cactus fruit peeled to order to freshly roasted chickpeas. Here is a list of dishes that you must try on your Moroccan trip.
image source
It is famous pigeon pie, which is a blend of almonds, honey, fruits and spicy meats. It is dusted with a generous layer of icing sugar. Pastilla is made on special occasions such as weddings.
M'choui:
This is the ceremonial dish marking Aid el Kebir, the feat commemorating
Abraham's sacrifice of a lamb instead of his son, held 70 days after Ramadan. A
whole sheep is roasted on a spit and brought to the table for everyone to carve off
pieces and dip into little dishes of cumin. No part of the lamb is wasted: after the feast
you will see sheepskins pegged out on rooftop terraces, along with the intestines,
which are sun dries for flavouring in winter stews.
image source
This is a basic beef or lamb stew (sometimes just
vegetables) slowly simmered in an earthenware dish with conical lid.
Black olives are invariably added to honey-flavoured sauce; apples and
pears may also be thrown in. one of the rewards of walking in the Atlas
mountains is to order a tajine from a Berber café before setting off,
then to return a few hours later to find it cooked.
Shebakkia:
Moroccans are great sugar addicts. Tea and fruit juices are served
Sweetened, and every home will have a supply of home-made sweets. During
Ramadan, try shebakkia, deep-fried knots of pastry dipped in honey and sprinkled
with sesame seeds.
One of the pleasures of motoring in Morocco is the multitude of grill restaurants
to be found along the way. They serve succulent lamb cutlets, kebabs or liver.
image source
During
Ramadan, Moroccans break their daily fast with fresh dates and a bowl
of harira, a thick soup of beans, lentils and lamb. Every café will
have this soup available for those unable to get home by appointed
hours.
