Morocco is a mishmash of sights, smells and sounds; a country of contradictions, despite being steeped in age-old traditions and conservatism, Morocco is gradually embracing modernisation in the awakening of its booming tourism industry.
Throughout my travels in Morocco, I never ceased to be amazed by the passion put in by the Moroccans in preparing and serving their food, it’s an art on its own. Needless to say, the food itself is probably one of the finest in the world. From the unparalleled meat tagines to the unbelievably soft and fluffy couscous, it’s not hard to see why Moroccan food is gaining popularity worldwide and loved by both tourists and locals alike.
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| Lamb tagine |
1. Tagine (meat stews)
Named after the clay pot in which it is cooked in, it is a well-known Moroccan cuisine. Tajines are basically meat and vegetable stews, braised on low heat, and hence the unequivocally tender and moist meat. Usually a medley of seasonings and spices are added to add flavour to the dish: olives, pickled lemon, paprika, coriander, etc. Undoubtedly, tagines top the list of my favourite Moroccan food!
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| Couscous with roast chicken |
2. Couscous
I used to have no idea what couscous is, until I went to Morocco, where I saw couscous literally everywhere! According to Wikipedia, it is actually moistened semolina wheat rolled in finely ground wheat flour. Couscous is said to have originated from North Africa, although now it has become popular in many countries across the globe. It is steamed for many hours until it is soft and fluffy, then it is served with meat or vegetable broth, most of the time with potatoes, carrots, courgettes and meats.
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| Pin the snail out! |
3. Snail stew
This is one of Morocco’s exotic delights, available cheaply at street stalls pretty much every town or city in Morocco. It may seem technically challenging to use safety pins (which are pinned onto lemons) to pin out the slimy, slippery snail meat out of its shell. Once you get the hang of it, you will surprise yourself how fun it is to enjoy eating snail meat this way. However, be very careful not to pierce your tongue no matter how tasty the snails are when you feel like licking the juices off the pins.
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| Meat attack! |
4. Grilled meat skewers
Morocco is the paradise for meat lovers. Heavily influenced by the Middle-Eastern cuisines, Moroccans have a knack of transforming their meat into something heavenly. Marinated in herbs and spices, the barbecued meat skewers promise to give your taste buds a full-blown culinary sensation.
Try out the local delicacy of the country when you are travelling. Looks may be deceiving. Be bold, be brave, and be adventurous! And you will return home with new perspectives of food and taste!
