Moroccan Culinary Tour – why and what to expect

Morocco, like many parts of the world, has a cuisine that is unique to the region. Their food is highly colourful, tasty and not too spicy. Due to their unique cuisine, this makes travel to Morocco for food lovers incredibly popular.

One of the most popular regions of Morocco is Marrakech, famous for its marketplace where almost anything you could possibly desire can be found, and then bartered for in traditional Moroccan style. The famous markets of Morocco are also where you can buy your ingredients and spices to make Moroccan dishes.

A culinary tour of Morocco allows you to spend a great holiday in Morocco sampling food from each and every region, and each region has its own specialities. A culinary tour also allows you the unique opportunity to cook Moroccan food yourself, under the tutorship of the chef, and then to put your skills into practice when you get back home for that taste of Morocco at home.

When you travel to Morocco you’ll be able to spend your time staying on one of the authentic riads. Riads are traditional houses in Morocco, and have the unique feature of an interior garden. The most traditional riads also feature a fountain in the interior garden. Travel to Morocco for an experience and memories you will treasure forever.

If you’re craving for some Moroccan cuisines before your dream holiday to Morocco, why not try making some yourself at home?! Following are some great Moroccan recipes we have found for you, enjoy!

Soup & Entrée

1. Harira – Lamb and Lentil soup, AKA. the national soup of Morocco
2. Ksra – Moroccan flat bread
3. Moroccan-Style Stuffed Acorn Squash
4. Moroccan Zaalouk Recipe – Eggplant and Tomato Cooked Salad
5. Taktouka – Moroccan Cooked Tomato and Green Pepper Salad
6. Chakchuka – Grilled Pepper & Tomato Salad
7. Moroccan Fish Bastila
8. Maakouda Batata – Moroccan Potato Cakes Recipe
9. Tabbouleh traditional Moroccan salad
10. Briouat el – Moroccan Savoury Pastries

Main

1. Tagines – Moroccan stew featuring meat simmered with vegetables
2. Aubergine, chick pea and potato balti
3. Kefta – Moroccan Meatballs
4. Kseksu Bidawi – Couscous with seven vegetables
5. Chicken stew
6. Mrouzia – A sweet dish of lamb with raisins, almonds and honey
7. Mezgaldi of Onions – Caramelized Onions
8. Makfoul – Lamb Tagine
9. Briwates dial djaj – Pastry stuffed with spicy chicken
10. Mechoui – Spiced Roast Lamb
11. Moroccan Spiced Sea Bass Ceviche
12. Marrakesh Vegetable Curry
13. B’stilla – Chicken Pie
14. Moroccan Shephard’s Pie
15. Kefta magawara – meatball tagine
16. Boulfaf – Liver kebab
17. Merguez – spicy lamb sausage
18. Hut B’noua – Red Snapper With Almond Paste
19. Djej bil Einab – Chicken with grapes
20. Mezze – Moroccan Tapas

Desserts

1. Ghribas – Peanut Cookies
2. Apricot Couscous
3. Sfenj Beignets – Sweet Moroccan Doughnut Recipe
4. Bechkito – Moroccan Butter Cookies
5. Fekkas – Spice Cookies
6. Moroccan Sellou Recipe – Sweet Made from Ground Almonds, Sesame and Flour
7. Harost Balls – Dessert sweets made of dates, raisins and nuts; traditionally a part of the passover feast in Morocco
8. Halwa Shebakia – Moroccan Sesame Cookies
9. Amlou – Almond Spread
10. M’hanncha or The Snake – Moroccan Almond Pastries

Drinks:

1. Mint Tea
2. Qahwah – Coffee with spices
3. Asseer Rumman – Pomegranate Juice
4. Almond Milk
5. Sharbat – Apple Milk Drink

10 Local Customs to Know Before You Visit Morocco

Holidaymakers are fleeing the Euro-zone for better deals to destinations like Morocco. But before you travel to another continent, it’s best that you go prepared and familarise yourself with the local customs. Here we’ve compiled a Top 10 list courtesy of Moroccan travel experts, The Best of Morocco, to help you ease into the Moroccan way of life.

1. Tipping

Tipping is part of everyday life in Morocco. You may think it’s only done by tourists, but it’s not! The locals do it to show their appreciation for good service. In Morocco, you tip just about everyone, the drivers, concierge, waiters, and the list goes on. Even when you dine in restaurants with a 12% gratuity and service charge to your bill, a tip is still expected.

2. Ramadan

Like any other Muslim country, during the Islamic month of fasting, participating Muslims does not eat or drink from dawn until sunset. Ramadan hardly affects tourists in major cities, there is only a slight change to shop opening hours. Food and drink is still available throughout daylight hours in hotel and tourist restaurants. However, as a matter of respect, you should not walk in the streets eating or drinking and if you are in a shop, you should try not to smoke.

3. No Lefties

On the dinner table that is. To experience a true Moroccan meal, you should try eating with your hands. But like other Muslim countries, you should always eat with the right hand, as the left is supposed to be used for the toilet.

4. Bargaining Power

When shopping in markets, the price you’re told is almost never the final price as sellers expect you to bargain. It is wise to bargain from half of the offer price, and take it from there. Eventually you’ll meet at a price you’re both happy with.
Here’s an example of “Haggling in Action”, a video of tourists buying shoes at a market in Marrakech.

5. Photo Opp

When taking photos of locals, it’s best to ask for permission first. Moroccans are generous and passionate people, but that’s not necessarily the case when strangers go snapping away with their cameras. In tourist places you may be required to tip them for a good pose at the camera.

6. Dress Code

There aren’t really any restrictions for women to dress in shorts or tank tops during the summer, as the locals are pretty used to it with many tourists visiting Morocco each year. However, when you enter a mosque, or any other holy place, you should dress conservatively out of respect, meaning cover your shoulders and pants over your knees. The same applies for male travellers also.

7. Got the Stomach for It?

Morocco is considered to be one of the few places in Africa that has the safest and cleanest drinking water distribution, but it is not advised for travellers to drink from the tap. Water in Morocco contains higher levels of minerals than water in Europe. The locals are used to absorb high-mineralized water, but travellers may fall ill from drinking it. It’s nothing major, just a case of an upset stomach, but that’s enough to spoil a holiday!

8. Shoes off

When invited to someone’s home for an authentic Moroccan meal, remember to leave your shoes by the door. As a custom, Moroccans do not wear outside shoes in their homes, or on their fabulous rugs.

9. Meet and Greet

Greetings are important in Morocco, as they often shake hands, right hand of course, and ask how each other and their family are doing. A cursory greeting is considered rude and offensive.

10. Eat Like a Pig

Nothing displays true Moroccan hospitality better than a good meal. When invited to a meal, prepare to be stunned by the variety and portion of the meals served. Be prepared to feast on couscous and kebabs whilst in Morocco. For pork lovers, it is difficult, though not impossible, to obtain pork dishes in restaurants, so beef, lamb and seafood are often the only available alternatives.