I want to preface this page on Moroccan food by stating that Morocco is not known for being a place of culinary wonder. There are very few traditional dishes, yet the variety one can find in them can be quite substantial. Nevertheless, I found good and bad food while traveling throughout the country, and this is my Moroccan food experience.
Breakfast
Breakfast in Morocco can be described as minimal at best. Breakfast usually consists of a few pieces of bread (common with every meal), butter or jams if you are lucky, orange juice, tea or coffee, and eggs if you are willing to spend a dollar or two more. The bread is always soft and filling, giving you a good bit of substance to start your day. Orange juice is very common in Morocco along with a variety of other juices that are freshly squeezed each day and you can definitely tell. The eggs are never anything special, yet the price for breakfast on average costs 25-35 dirham ($2.5-3.5)
Mint Tea
Before continuing I must talk about the staple of all meals and something engrained into the Moroccan culture, Mint tea. Mint tea is standard across most meals with a variety of benefits. Primarily, the tea contains menthol, which clears up the throat and provides gradual relief to the throat. Mint tea is almost always exceedingly sweet, as they put copious amounts of sugar in every pot. I fell in love with this tea and the premise behind it. During my travels, I eventually got to the point where I would go out mid-day just for a pot of mint tea that would bring peace and energy to continue in the extreme heat. Thankfully, a pot of this tea ranges from 10-15 dirham ($1-1.5)
Lunch and Dinner
The following dishes are the heart and soul of Moroccan cuisine. These dishes are Moroccan classics that go back hundreds of years and resemble the region and people. Although not the tastiest food in the world, these dishes have become something I looked forward to every chance I had the opportunity to eat them.
Tajine
The classic traditional dish of Morocco. Found in every city and almost at every restaurant, this dish is a must for anyone who visits Morocco. There are various types of tajines found throughout the country. On the coast, there are seafood tajines with a base of shrimp, salmon, or any local fish. However, the most common tajine is chicken tajine. The tajines come in a special tajine dish and are layered with vegetables over the main protein. The primary vegetables are carrots, cactus, and tons of olives, alongside plenty of potatoes. A savory dish that if I could ascribe one word to, hearty. The spices and taste do not stand out amongst foodies of the world, yet it is the staple dish of Morocco. Tajines range in price from 40 dirhams to 90 dirham ($4-9)
Olives
Olives must be discussed when talking about the Moroccan culinary experience. This is the most grown food here in Morocco. There are rows and rows of olive trees that thrive in Morocco’s particular climate. All types of Olives are found here, black, green, yellow, savory, and delicious. They are common in most dishes and served with bread as a traditional appetizer or part of a dish. Truly an olive lovers’ dream, as local shops sell them by the kilo in every market with a seemingly endless supply that never ceases to amaze me.
Seafood
Moroccan seafood should be classified as world-class. Morroco, bordering the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, is a prime location for seafood. Tons and tons of fresh seafood are caught daily and sold at famous fish markets like the one in Essaouira. The fish was always fresh and the best part was the mixing of different seafood. The photo on the right shows a seafood pasta with a mix of 5 different kinds of seafood, including calamari, shrimp, and a variety of local fishes. Luckily, the seafood is priced very well with sandwiches and fast food seafood dishes ranging from 30 to 50 dirhams ($3-5) and very few dishes exceeding 120 dirhams ($12)
