Moroccan Food is About More Than Just Tagine
Morocco is known for its food culture; it’s a country of spice markets, couscous and mint tea. With a variety of culinary influences, in Morocco you’ll find a diverse North African cuisine.
Traditional Moroccan cuisine is peppered with elements from the Berbers (tagines and couscous), the Arabs (spices), and the Moors (olives), and of course with a history of French colonization, there’s also a dash of cafes and pastries. As street food or in someone’s home, Moroccan cuisine is complex to say the least.
This beautiful video from Perennial Plate, in partnership with Intrepid Travel, the weekly web series dedicated to adventurous and sustainable eating, takes us straight into the heart of that culture. You can almost smell the spices in the market as you watch it, and yes, you’ll soon find that there’s more to Morocco than just tagine. The two week trip is boiled down into three minutes, and if you come out of it not ready to book a flight to Marrakesh, you might want to get your head checked.
Moments in Morocco from The Perennial Plate on Vimeo.
Feeling inspired? Here are four elements of Moroccan cuisine that you can easily bring into your own kitchen.
1. Tea
In Morocco, like many places, tea is more than a drink; it’s a ritual. The sweet, minty tea is served all day long, fueling conversations and meetings. Make your own at home for an exotic tasting drink.
2. Spices
If you’re looking to expand your cooking repertoire, start with this list of 6 Moroccan spices. From turmeric to cinnamon, these are spices that are not only flavorful, but good for you as well. Saffron anyone?
3. Tagine
Tagine in fact refers to the name of the dish that the flavorful slow-cooked stew is prepared in, and while it certainly adds to your kitchen’s exotic appeal to use a classic tagine dish, you can also make them in a dutch oven or a heavy saucepan with a lid that seals. Start off with this Traditional Moroccan Chicken Tagine Recipe with Preserved Lemons.
4. Harissa
Basically the hot sauce of North Africa, harissa is a blend of peppers, oils and spices. The specific ingredients vary depending on where you are, but one thing is sure: it’s hot.
Related on Organic Authority:
6 Moroccan Spices to Blaze a Trail of Flavor in Your Kitchen
Argan Oil: A Look Behind Morocco’s Beauty Treatment
Veg Out! 5 Tips to Craft Seasonal Vegetable Soup Recipes
Image: EladeManu
