You must eat these foods in Marrakech

Whether you’re taking a stroll through one of the winding alleyways of the medina, or checking out one of the many evening food stalls in Djemaa El-Fna square, there is certainly no shortage of good food to be found in Marrakech.
The colorful sights and aromas of dried spices in the souks and the plethora of fresh fruit and vegetables lining the streetsides make it clear that this city has plenty of culinary surprises waiting to be discovered. Here are the top foods you should definitely try if you’re ever in Marrakech.

1. Tagine

Undoubtedly one of the most iconic Moroccan dishes are those prepared in the dome-shaped clay pot known as a Tagine. Tagine dishes are made up of any number of ingredients, but usually include some kind of meat like fish, chicken, or lamb that is left to simmer and slow cooked with herbs, spices, and other ingredients such as dates or potatoes. The possibilities are endless with Tagine!

2. Bestilla

This unique Moroccan dish resembles a savory meat pie and makes use of both sweet and salty flavors. Usually filled with shredded meat slow cooked in broth and spices, Bestilla is layered on the outside with a crispy, flaky pastry that is often topped off with a dusting of powdered sugar, cinnamon, and toasted almonds.
The mixture between the the luscious aromatic flavors of the meat mixed with the buttery, sweet flavors of the pastry will leave you wondering why you’ve never tasted anything like it before!

3. Couscous

A trip to Morocco is not complete without trying Couscous. A classic cornerstone of authentic Berber cuisine, couscous is eaten with a variety of different dishes including assortments of cooked vegetables or meats and is another common Moroccan staple.
Couscous is especially popular on Fridays after prayer and is a longstanding tradition in Morocco, so much so that some restaurants can be found only serving couscous dishes on Friday. Couscous looks like a fine grain, but is actually made from durum wheat semolina and the final product, when cooked, more closely resembles a pasta.
Lucky for you, couscous is an extremely common dish and can be found all over Marrakech, and you can learn to make it yourself through a number of different Moroccan cooking classes.

4. Chebakia

This sweet pastry is made from strips of dough that have been rolled, twisted, and folded into the shape of a flower, fried, and then generously coated in syrup or honey, as well as sesame seeds. This tasty treat is especially popular during Ramadan, but can be found all around town during any time of the year.
There are a number of cooking classes in Marrakech that can teach you to bake your own Moroccan pastries.

Moroccan Mint Tea

A staple all over Morocco, the sweet mint tea can be found nearly everywhere, from devoted tea shops throughout the city, to restaurants, to roadside stops serving up hot glasses with fresh leaves of mint. It is something you absolutely have to try if you find yourself in Marrakech, it’s certainly worth it.
The tea is enjoyed throughout the day and is drank by nearly everyone, and it really is delicious! If this sounds like something you’d like to learn how to make, Libzar cooking class in Marrakech will teach you!

6. Bissara

Bissara is a unique soup made from fava beans that have been simmered and slowly cooked with onions, coriander, turmeric, cumin, paprika, and a variety of other spices before being served with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon.
Often eaten for breakfast or as a snack, Bissara can also be served as a dip. There are a few cooking classes in Marrakech that will gladly teach you how it’s all done.

7. Harira

Harira is a traditional Moroccan soup made up from lentils, chickpeas, and tomatoes. It is commonly enjoyed as a snack or light dinner, especially towards the end of Ramadan. The soup takes on many different forms as recipes vary to include beef, lamb, chicken, vegetables, rice, and even pieces of Vermicelli or thickened by slowly adding egg to give the soup a different texture.

8. Msemen

Msemen is a Moroccan flatbread made from kneaded, layered dough that is heated into a stretchy pancake-like bread that goes great with butter, jam, or a cup of mint tea.
It is commonly eaten with breakfast, and can be found at bakeries and food stalls all around Marrakech. You can get some experience making this Moroccan staple at a cooking class in Marrakech.

9. Tanjia

Tanjia is the most famous dish in the city of Marrakech, and to go there without tasting this emblematic dish would be heresy. It is the sauerkraut of Alsace, made up of flavours released after a long stewing.
This traditional dish is generally prepared by men who put the meat, spices and other ingredients in a terracotta jar, then seal it with Kraft paper, fastened with iron and wire, and braise it overnight over wood reduced to glowing coals.
Tanjia is an authentic Moroccan dish named after its container. An earthenware jar used to transport oil in ancient times, it has become a myth of Moroccan gastronomy.

Related topics:

• Top foods
• Marrakech
• Moroccan dishes