Popular Moroccan Dishes: Where to Start
Moroccan food is one of the world's great cuisines — rich, aromatic, and built around a pantry of incredible ingredients. But if you're new to it, knowing where to start can be daunting. This guide covers the essential Moroccan dishes: what they are, why they're worth making, and where to find the recipes on our site.
Tagine
The tagine is the dish most associated with Morocco — a slow-cooked stew of meat, vegetables and spices. Chicken tagine with preserved lemon and olives is the classic starting point; lamb tagine with prunes and almonds runs it close. Try our Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemon or our Classic Lamb Tagine.
Couscous
Morocco's national dish — steamed semolina served every Friday, piled high with slow-cooked vegetables and meat. Read our guide on How to Steam Couscous.
Harira
Morocco's great soup — tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas and lamb, spiced with ginger, cinnamon and coriander. Eaten to break the fast during Ramadan, but found on Moroccan tables year-round.
Meatball Tagine (Mkaoura)
Spiced lamb meatballs in a rich tomato sauce, finished with eggs poached directly in the sauce. Try our Classic Meatball Tagine.
Chermoula Fish
Chermoula is Morocco's great marinade — coriander, parsley, cumin, paprika, lemon and garlic. Try our Fish Tagine with Chermoula or our Fish in the Oven (Tagra).
Moroccan Salads
Every proper Moroccan meal starts with a spread of small salads. Try our Zaalouk recipe to start.
Khobz (Moroccan Bread)
The round white bread that accompanies every Moroccan meal. Try our Moroccan Bread recipe.
Mint Tea
A ritual of hospitality — green tea with fresh mint, poured from height to create the signature foam. Try our Mint Tea recipe.
Ready to go deeper? Visit our Moroccan Food Guide for every key ingredient in Moroccan cooking.
