Moroccan Food You Won’t Find on a Restaurant Menu

During this time last year MarocBaba and I had the idea to start Marrakech Food Tours. We saw tourists every day in Marrakech ducking into restaurants where we knew they were bound to receive a marginal (at best) meal passing itself off as “traditional Moroccan” food. Day after day, person after person and it broke our hearts! After my first visit to Morocco I left disappointed, whatever people were saying about Moroccan food certainly wasn’t what I experienced. In fact one more chicken and olive tajine and my stomach would have burst! I didn’t want the tourists we saw leaving and feeling the same way.

It’s possible to find good Moroccan food being served and that’s what we aim to do with visitors but there are even more dishes that will never be a part of a restaurant menu. You can only have them when you visit someone’s home and they treat you to a typical meal – and a glimpse into the real food of Morocco.

Barley Couscous and Corn Couscous

Traditional couscous is made with grains of semolina – the same grain that pasta is made with. In some areas of Morocco, especially rural areas couscous is made with other grains as well. Truthfully my favorite couscous is made with corn – very similar to polenta but soft and light like couscous. I also like the barley version. If you’re gluten free, corn couscous is a great way to eat the dish without the gluten!

Ba’abouch – Snails in Broth

These snails are a much loved street food, found in fall and winter throughout Morocco. While some people really like the snails themselves, most love the broth more. You can buy the spice mixture for the broth from any spice shop. Some families make them at home but, these snails will never be on offer in a restaurant.

Lkor3in – Sheep Feet

My husband loves this meal, a very deep love. The first time he told me what it was I was aghast. It’s sheep feet with chickpeas or beans. In fact it’s not just the feet, it’s the lower part of the leg that is pressure cooked along with a mixture of spices and chickpeas (or sometimes other beans and/or wheat).

Ras Dial Llhawli – Roasted Sheep Head

There are a few places that you can find this such as on “Mechoui alley” in Marrakech. Typically it’s reserved for the day after a sheep is slaughtered, such as the 2nd day of Eid Kbir. The head of the sheep is charred over coals to remove the hair and skin. It’s then cut into pieces, the brain removed and cooked separately. The rest (including tongue and eyeballs) are steamed in a pressure cooker.  The meat is then eaten with salt and cumin sprinkled on top. It sounds very strange to people who haven’t tried it but really the meat tastes very similar to bacon.

Boulfaf – Grilled Sheep Liver

I just got up the nerve to try this, this year (after 10 years of being exposed to it!) What I have learned is this is truly a treat – even though I’m still not a fan! It’s another dish that’s made after a sheep has been slaughtered, typically the same day it happens. The liver is spiced and grilled whole, then cut into pieces, wrapped in caul fat and grilled again. The fat melts to keep the meat moist. You’ll never find it on a restaurant menu!

Rfissa – Chicken on Shredded M’semmen

The first time I ate this it completely opened my eyes to Moroccan food. It remains one of my very favorite meals. Trid (similar to msemmen) is shredded and set down as the bottom layer. Then chicken, lentils and onions are cooked with a mixture of spices including fenugreek. The meat, beans and liquid is poured over the top of the hot shredded bread and then eaten. Best. Food. Ever.

Breakfast Harira 

This soup similar to porridge is a common breakfast food. Semolina is whisked into boiling water and then milk is added as it begins to thicken. It’s seasoned with salt, cumin and olive oil. The first time I ate it, I kept trying to add sugar to make it taste something like oatmeal. It’s meant to be savory.

 

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