No one can deny the beauty of a country like Morocco. It continues to charm travelers, enticing them to visit at the first opportunity. It is a country that generates an impressive and truly interesting cultural blend. It is also known for the warm hospitality of its people and their open-mindedness in accepting differences. In Morocco, it is easy to fall in love with the natural and diverse landscapes. However, there is also an element that makes Morocco internationally renowned: its cuisine and gastronomy!
The Origin of Moroccan Cuisine
What distinguishes Moroccan cuisine and makes it unique is its diversity. This is manifested through the different cultures that have influenced it from century to century, giving rise to a particular gastronomy that awakens the senses. Moroccan cuisine has been influenced by the Amazigh culture, reflected in the variety of tagine recipes. Arab influence is also present through the introduction of different spices in prepared dishes. Jewish influence integrated food preservation techniques into Moroccan cuisine. Not to forget the significant French and British influence during colonization, which is evident in the presence of teas, coffees, and pastries in Moroccan gastronomy. Andalusian influence, the greatest contributor to well-known Moroccan dishes, such as harira and pastilla, is also significant.
Well-Known Moroccan Dishes
Moroccan cuisine boasts countless recipes for dishes that can be prepared every day. However, there are a few that are known worldwide. Some of them include:
Tagine: It can be made with meat, chicken, or fish. The uniqueness here lies in Moroccan cuisine’s tendency to combine sweet and savory flavors, creating a truly distinctive experience. For example, the tagine with caramelized prunes.
Couscous: It is one of the recipes that has gained worldwide fame. Tradition dictates that couscous should be eaten for lunch every Friday. There are two versions, one with vegetables and another with caramelized onions and raisins.
Harira: A soup consumed especially during the month of Ramadan as the first dish to break the fast. It is considered healthy due to its rich composition resulting from a varied mix of ingredients.
Pastilla: A well-known Moroccan recipe often served on special occasions, such as weddings, for example. Pastilla can be prepared with a stuffing of chicken and almonds or fish and vermicelli.
Mint tea: It is the number one beverage in Morocco. It can be consumed on any occasion, whether to aid digestion after a meal, welcome guests, or as a snack with pastries. For an extra touch, it can be flavored with pure saffron.
Bread: Unlike other countries where bread is rarely consumed, it is a key element in the Moroccan diet. It can be prepared in various forms: traditional bread, batbout, msemen, crepes, baghrir, etc.
Pastries: They are always present on the Moroccan table. Pastries are often made with almonds, sesame, spices, and orange blossom water. Among the most consumed are gazelle horns, feqqas, ghriba, chebakia, and more.
Diversity: A Distinct Quality of Moroccan Cuisine
Moroccan cuisine ranks among the best cuisines in the world, thanks to its subtlety, delicacy, and, above all, its diversity. It always strives to blend ingredients in a way that creates a unique dish with a divine taste.
For example, Moroccan cuisine incorporates dried fruits into various dishes such as meat tagines, pastilla, or pastries.
Likewise, it has several recipes that are unique to Moroccan cuisine and do not exist in any other cuisine, such as tangia marrakchi, fava bean preparation (bessara), seffa, tagoulla amazigh, or sheep’s head.
The uniqueness of Moroccan cuisine is also expressed
through the abundant use of herbs. Many dishes contain parsley, coriander, thyme, bay leaves, basil, oregano, rosemary, and many others.
Similarly, the use of different spices is widespread in Morocco. All dishes must include at least some of the following spices: cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, cumin, pure saffron, paprika, dill, and ras el hanout (a combination of over 20 spices).
The famous Moroccan tea is not only prepared with mint but also with absinthe, sage, verbena, or marjoram.
Moroccan Cuisine: The 2nd Best Cuisine in the World
Moroccan gastronomy has proven to the world that it is truly unique, with its own charming touch that guarantees a divine taste in every dish. This is attributed to the magical power of combining spices, flavors, and aromas in a single dish. Moroccan cuisine tells the story of an entire country, reflecting the cultural and culinary habits of the diverse populations that have settled there over the years. Thanks to this special blend, Moroccan cuisine has achieved great global success. This is evident in its reputation and the presence of Moroccan restaurants worldwide that offer a typical Moroccan menu to their customers.
The secret behind this success lies in the richness of Moroccan cuisine, which represents a true culinary heritage passed down from generation to generation, preserving its essence while evolving and adapting to cultural, social changes, and the demands of new generations.
