I love Moroccan cuisine. Pastilla, or meat pies encased in puff pastry and covered with powdered sugar and cinnamon, savory lamb tajines, and hot mint tea don’t even begin to scratch the surface of this complex culinary culture. My food obsession led me all the way to Morocco where I followed my taste buds right into the Moroccan kitchen.
Spice it Up
Moroccan cooking is an exciting mix of exotic spices and flavorful meats layered upon a foundation that pays homage to the French culinary arts. There are 6 key spices that are found in most Moroccan dishes: cinnamon, cumin, paprika, ginger, turmeric, and saffron. Another core spice is Ras el Hanout, a mixture of about 35 spices.
Moroccan Salads
These aren’t your typical leafy greens. Nope, Moroccan salads are actually an assortment of cold and warm vegetable dishes served as an appetizer course. Think stewed tomatoes with cinnamon and sugar, or pickled zucchini marinated in olive oil and vinegar with dashes of cumin, paprika, garlic, salt, and pepper. Another delicious choice are grilled peppers, peeled and sliced into long strips before enduring a thorough dusting of cumin, paprika, garlic, salt, and pepper.
The Tajine
Moroccan cuisine is characterized by tajines, or conical clay pots that slow cook food on the stovetop. Often filled with lamb, chicken or fish stewed together with apricots, prunes, dates, lemons or root vegetables, tajines are a heavenly melting pot of spices, meats, and vegetables.
Where to Get Cookin’
There are a handful of top hotels in Marrakech that offer cooking workshops for travelers, and what better way to immerse yourself in the local culture? Workshops are often taught by dadas, or traditional Moroccan chefs whose culinary artistry has been passed down for generations. Best of all, after working up an appetite and being tempted by a variety of spicy aromas, you’ll get to enjoy a full meal featuring your own tasty creations.
La Maison Arabe
1, Derb Assehbe, Bab Doukkala
Marrakech, Morocco
Tel. +212 05 24 38 70 10
Both private and group cooking workshops offered.
600-800 dirhams ($75-100) per person
(price dependent on the size of the group.)
Private workshop: 5,000 dirhams ($600).
Riad Kniza
34 Derb l’Hotel, Bab Doukala
Marrakech, Morocco
Tel. +212 05 24 37 69 42
Both private and group cooking workshops offered.
La Sultana
403 rue de la Kasbah 40 000
Marrakech, Morocco
Tel. +212 5 24 38 80 08
Both private and group cooking workshops offered.
800 dirhams ($100) per person for 2 people.
550 dirhams ($65) per person for 3 people.
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