Traditional Food

Posts Tagged ‘Moroccan’

Considered as one of the most diversified and sumptuous food, Moroccan cuisine offers a delightful experience. There primary reason contributed to the diverse Moroccan food is it’s interaction with the outside world for centuries. Food in Morocco has blended different cuisines from different cultures like Moorish, Arab, Middle Eastern, Berber, Jewish, Iberian and Mediterranean African.

Over different historical eras and centuries the Moroccan cuisine was refined by the highly capable cooks of the royal kitchens in Meknes, Fez, Marrakech, Tetouan and Rabat. This refined cuisine laid the base for the modern Moroccan cuisine.

History of Moroccan Cuisine

Morocco has been at the crossroad of different civilizations, which has greatly influenced Moroccan food Today you will even find some of the best Moroccan recipes over the internet but the truth is that nothing tastes like the Moroccan spices.

It is said that the history of Morocco can be seen reflected in their cuisine. People and tribes from different parts of the world has come to Morocco and settled here, which has led to creation of a blended cuisine that has many different flavors. There was a time when political refugees came all the way from Baghdad, Iraq during the Middle Ages to settle in Morocco. They brought their local recipes, which have since become a part of the traditional Moroccan cuisine. One of the signature characteristics of this type of blended recipe is where fruit is cooked with meat like apricots with chicken.

Moroccan food has also been influenced greatly by Morisco or the Muslim refugees who were thrown out of Spain preceding the Spanish inquisition. An important part of Moroccan cuisine is the ingredients used. Since Morocco produces Mediterranean vegetables and fruits, they are used in the preparation of different Moroccan recipes. Poultry, cattle and fish is also found in abundance in Morocco and hence they have become an integral part of the country’s cuisine.

Moroccan Spices

Food in Morocco can’t do without the Moroccan spices. One of the biggest markets in Morocco for spices is at Agadir and you can find different types of spices used as an ingredient for rendering a different taste. These spices are used in all Moroccan recipes and render a taste that will remain with you for a lifetime.

Some of the popular Moroccan spices include saffron that came from Tiliouine, olive and mint came from Meknes, while lemons and oranges came from Fez. Some of the common spices were also home grown like kamoun (cumin), karfa (cinnamon), kharkoum (tumeric), libzar (pepper) , skingbir (ginger), tahmira (paprika), sesame seed, anis seed, kasbour (coriander), zaafrane beldi (saffron) and maadnous (parsley).

The Great Moroccan Meal

You have to really taste the tanginess and the spicy flavors of the Moroccan cuisine to understand why it is so popular across the world. The most important part of the Moroccan cuisine is the midday meal. A Moroccan mid day meal will start with hot and cold salads, followed by tagine. Bread is the staple food in every mid day meal. This is followed by a chicken or lamb dish and then a dish of couscous topped with vegetable and meat. At the end of the meal, you will get to drink a cup of sweet mint tea, which is a part of their tradition.

Couscous is the main Moroccan dish and is considered to be of Berber origin. The most commonly consumed form of meat is beef although lamb is also preferred but costs more than beef. There is also a growing importance for seafood and it is slowly becoming an important part of Moroccan cuisine.

Some of the popular as well as famous Moroccan food recipes include Pastilla, Couscous, Tajine, Harira and Tanjia. Although Harira is a soup, but it is an important part of the Moroccan cuisine and is consumed mostly during the holy months of Ramadan.

Where you have rich food laced with Moroccan cuisine, you will definitely have Desserts. Desserts in Morocco don’t necessarily have to be sweet although the sweeter it is, the better it will be. One of the common desserts is the kaab el ghzal or gazelle’s horns. Of course that’s just a name and you won’t get to eat any real horns. Kaab el ghzal is a type of pastry with sugar toppings that is stuffed with almond paste. Honey cakes are extremely popular too and they are prepared by deep frying dough and then dipping them in hot honey and finally sesame seeds are sprinkled on the top.

Moroccan cuisine has a lot of variety and also include drinks (Mint Tea) and snacks apart from their mid day meal and to feel the real flavor of spice, you will have to taste their traditional food.

So you’ve been hearing about Moroccan recipes a lot lately and you are likely wondering what the big fuss is about. Is it worth it giving Moroccan recipes a try?

If you are looking for a reason to start incorporating delicious Moroccan recipes into your daily living, here are 10 good reasons why you should use Moroccan recipes.

1. Moroccan recipes are healthy- Moroccan recipes typically use chicken, lamb and plenty of vegetables that are flavored with spices and herbs that are not only exotic and taste good, but can be beneficial to your health. If you want to start eating healthier, check out Moroccan food.

2. Moroccan recipes are easy to make- Not a lot of fuss, not a lot of time and you can have a full meal for you and your family when you make Moroccan food.

3. Moroccan recipes are versatile- Although exotic, there are many versatile dishes that you can make when you are cooking Moroccan food. The foods of North Africa are one of the most versatile of all foods as they combine African cooking with Mediterranean cooking.

4. Moroccan recipes can be quick- If you use tagines, which are clay pots that are used to make Moroccan cuisine, you can make your dinner in much less time than it would take you using non clay pot cooking. Tagines are easy to use and easy to clean up.

5. Moroccan recipes can help you lose weight- Ever hear of the Mediterranean diet? Many of the foods that are used in that diet that incorporates vegetables used in Moroccan foods are used in this diet. You will eat healthier and lose weight.

6. Moroccan recipes are abundant- If you want to learn to cook Moroccan food, you can find a vast selection of Moroccan recipes online. No more do you have to buy an expensive cookbook if you want to try Moroccan cuisine- all the Moroccan recipes that you want are just a click away.

7. Moroccan recipes can be a snack- You can learn to throw together some Moroccan olives, flat bread and even some cheeses for a quick, exotic snack for those last-minute guests.

8. Moroccan recipes are exotic-You will look as though you have gone through a lot of trouble to create an exotic dish, but in reality you would have cooked easy to make Moroccan food. If you want to impress someone with exotic cuisine, you can do so with Moroccan recipes.

9. Moroccan recipes are soothing- The Moroccan mint tea will soothe you and is very refreshing either hot or cold.

10. Moroccan recipes are delicious- This is really what it’s all about, isn’t it? If you are looking for a delicious cuisine, look no further than Moroccan food. Moroccan recipes have it all; they are delicious, healthy, easy to make and are actually good for you.

Learn how to cook Moroccan food using some of the Moroccan recipes that you find online. By using the tagines, the traditional clay oven, you can cook a dinner in a lot less time in one pot. If you are looking for a way to make delicious food that is exotic as well as healthy, you can learn how to use tagines and make exotic Moroccan recipes that you find online.