MOROCCAN COOKING Diner's Digest Guest Book
Food
Gallery
Moroccan
Cuisine
Morocco, the culinary star of North Africa, is the doorway between Europe and Africa. Much imperial and trade influence has been filtered through her and blended into her culture. Unlike the herb-based cooking across the sea to the north, Moroccan cooking is characterized by rich spices.
In Morocco, mealtime is a social event. Common rituals include washing the hands before eating and drinking tea before and after a meal. Moroccans eat with the fingers of their right hand, taking food from a shared platter. Before the meal, people give thanks to God by saying "Bismillah." They say "Al Hamdu Lillah" meaning "Thank God" at the end of the meal.
Cumin, coriander, saffron, chiles, dried ginger, cinnamon, and paprika are on the cook's shelf, and in her mortar. Harissa, a paste of garlic, chiles, olive oil, and salt, makes for firey dishes that stand out among the milder foods that are more the Mediterranean norm. Ras el hanout (which means head of the shop) names a dried spice mixture that combines anywhere from 10 to 100 spices. Each vendor has his own secret recipe (hence the name), and no two are exactly alike. Couscous, granular semolina, is central to Morrocan cuisine and is often cooked with spices, vegetables, nuts, and raisins. It makes a meal in itself or is topped with rich stews and roasted meats..
Lamb is a principal meat -- Moroccan roasted lamb is cooked until tender enough to be pulled apart and eaten with the fingers. It is often topped with raisin and onion sauces, or even an apricot puree. Meat and fish can be grilled, stewed, or cooked in an earthenware tagine (the name for both the pot and the dish). Savory foods are enhanced with fruits, dried and fresh -- apricots, dates, figs, and raisins, to name a few.
Recipes Recipes Name Recipes Type Recipes Time Chicken MOROCCAN-Style Roast Chicken Moroccan Entrees 1 hour 25 min MOROCCAN Chicken Pot Pie Moroccan Entrees 50 min Tajine Msir Zeetoon- Moroccan Chicken With Lemon Moroccan Tajines 1 hour Beef MOROCCAN LAMB WITH GARBANZO BEAN MASH Moroccan Entrees 45 min Harissa_Spiced Lamb Chops Moroccan Entrees 25 min Moroccan Beef Stew Moroccan Tajines 30 min Fish Fish Tagine with Tomatoes, Capers, and Cinnamon Moroccan Entrees 25 min Grilled Fresh Sardines with Fennel and Preserved Lemon Moroccan Tagines 25 min Roasted Whole Fish and Fennel with Crushed Potatoes, Preserved Lemon, and Charmoula Moroccan Tajines 50 min Desserts Pineapple and Banana Couscous Pudding Moroccan Desserts 25 min Moroccan Peasant Pancakes Moroccan Desserts 20 min Moroccan Coconut Cakes Moroccan Desserts 25 min Couscous MOROCCAN Casablanca Couscous Moroccan Entrees 2 hours
Drinks Drink Name Drink Type Tea Morocan Mint Tea Hot Drink