Moroccan breakfast is simple by nature. Pancakes, fatty sausages, and loads of potatoes are not normal fare. Instead you’ll find something lighter though usually carbohydrate-laden.
Typical Moroccan Breakfast Options
If you’re visiting Morocco and staying either at someone’s home or in a riad or hotel you’ll be presented with a variety of different foods. However most people eat a simple breakfast of bread with olive oil and tea. Some things you might find are;
- baguettes or khobz – Moroccan bread (always)
- croissants or other types of pastries
- olive oil to be eaten with the bread, slathered on as we might do with butter
- butter
- some type of jam
- Moroccan mortadella – it’s a processed meat I’d describe as turkey bologna.
- La Vache Qui Rit cheese triangles – known in the US as Laughing Cow cheese
- m’semmen (special occasion)
- beghrir (special occasion)
- you might also find some fruit or yogurt such as traditional Moroccan Raib
- eggs/omelette in some cases
- eggs with khlii (a type of salted lamb or beef)
- mint tea
- coffee
- orange juice
I find Moroccan breakfast to be a contrast tom other meals. It surprises me how vast the styles, flavors and complexities of lunch and dinner meals can be, while breakfasts and even sweets to some degree are pretty basic.
Where to Eat Breakfast in Morocco
A third type of breakfast; not the one at a hotel or in a home is out on the streets.
No guided tour is going to take you to breakfast here, and they’re probably not going to tell you about it either. Chances are you won’t see too many women eating here. At first glance you won’t sit down, you’ll keep walking by.
Set up inside street-side shops are you’ll see scenes similar to this; large pots or tajines dotting gas burners. Bread and tea pots with glasses. For breakfast there are a variety of different options that will vary based on the stall you visit.
My favorite is white beans in a tomato sauce. MarocBaba chooses b’ssara and a stew of lamb stomach. The interior eating area is very simple, maybe rustic is a good word for it.
The plates are cleared and washed immediately. You can have as much bread as you want (the huge baskets under the cooking area let you know there’s plenty to go around). A pot of hot mint tea is standard.
As you eat you’ll see many men and boys passing in and out to eat something quickly on their way to work or school. The best part is – the price is a steal. You’ll have a great, filling breakfast for under $3.
Moroccan Breakfast Recipes
Moroccan Breakfast Recipes
If you want to make a Moroccan breakfast table at home, here are some recipes to help you.
Moroccan Msemmen
Msemmen is typically made for breakfast or afternoon snack time. It is a laminated bread that can be eaten savory or sweet.
Batbout - Moroccan Pita Bread
This is the Moroccan version of pita bread. It's cooked on the stovetop, not in the oven.
French-Style Omelette with Moroccan Tomato and Onion Salad
This recipe combines a French style omelette with a Moroccan salad - perfect for a fun brunch!
B'ssara Soup
This is a thick soup or pulse made with fava beans that is often eaten in the morning during winter months.
Breakfast Harira
A savory breakfast soup that is popular in the mornings.
Moroccan Oatmeal: Hrbil
A delicious breakfast dish served during Eid and other special occasions in Morocco.
Beghrir with Nutella and Wild Raspberries
Moroccan pancakes that are cooked on one side only creating dozens of holes on top.
Moroccan Instant Pot Loubia
Moroccan white bean (cannellini bean) recipe cooked using an Instant Pot. An easy breakfast or main dish item that can be made extra quickly with the instant pot.
Moroccan Recipe: Bread or Khobz
No Moroccan meal is complete without bread - and that includes breakfast.
Moroccan Orange Banana Smoothie Bowl
This isn't a traditional breakfast item - consider it the millennial addition to the table. It is full of Moroccan flavors and it's delicious!
Moroccan Mint Tea
Mint tea is something that Moroccans drink all day long and it's absolutely something to start the day with.
How to Make Moroccan Coffee {Nous Nous}
If you're more a coffee drinker, here's how to make Moroccan nous nous (half coffee /half milk)
Mint Chocolate Iced, Whipped Coffee
If you prefer something cold with your breakfast this whipped dalgona style coffee will be the perfect addition.
Want some specific ideas of where to eat breakfast in Marrakech or brunch in Marrakech? Pick up my guide to dining in Marrakech! It’s full of ideas for all times of day.
Laura
Saturday 9th of May 2020
I've been scouring the internet to figure out how to recreate the chickpea dish I ate almost every day in Marrakesh... really simple, just chickpeas, cumin, and salt, as far as I remember. But I was there a decade ago so I need to jog my memory. I want to make sure I get the proportions right. Can you help? Thank you so much for these sweet recipes and memories of the delicious Moroccan breakfast!
Amanda Mouttaki
Saturday 9th of May 2020
Was it like a snack? Cooked chickpeas with salt and cumin?
Judy mountjoy
Tuesday 2nd of July 2019
Thanks for the great recipes I loved the breakfasts we had while travelling Morocco My favourite was the little pots of house made pot set yoghurt Do you have a recipe for that?
Amanda Mouttaki
Thursday 18th of July 2019
I don't on my blog I'm afraid. It's a bit of a process. Perhaps I will challenge myself one of these days!
Astrid Vinje
Tuesday 30th of May 2017
I was doing a Google search on traditional Moroccan breakfasts, and this post popped up! I love it when I find people I know (even virtually) in my Google searches. My family and I are doing a Moroccan-themed breakfast in honor of Ramadan, and found this to be so helpful. Hope you're doing well!
Amanda Mouttaki
Wednesday 31st of May 2017
I love when that happens too!
Azleem
Wednesday 5th of April 2017
Seems their breakfast is healthy. I hate the western unhealthy breakfast. We here in Maldives usually eats Tuna fish
Amanda Mouttaki
Thursday 6th of April 2017
Not all western breakfasts are unhealthy ;) It also probably has something to do with what you're used to. Tuna for breakfast wouldn't work for me but am glad you like it.
What to Eat and What to Avoid in Marrakech
Monday 17th of March 2014
[…] tea. You can find breakfast sold in small patisseries on every street corner. I wrote this post on traditional breakfast foods, but my best advice – don’t waste a lot of money on breakfast, opt for something simple […]