Bill Murray (the actor from Ghostbusters) once said, “Morocco is the greatest. I should be getting money from the Moroccans because I’m just telling everyone that it’s a wonderful place to go.”
What he should be getting is some of the mouthwatering local snacks of Morocco’s neighborhoods. Morocco never fails to offer its visitors unique food experiences. Whoever you are, wherever you come from, no matter what your taste preferences are, whether you are on a diet or not, Moroccan cuisine will capture your senses, then fill your belly with tastes and your mind with memories.
Moroccan food is what Morocco is. From the look of it, the food here is unique, different, and at times, weird. But, does weird ever stop you? And from the taste of it, it is just uniquely delicious and beyond what words can describe!
Discover with us the Morocco of foods, a tiny world of Amazigh (Berber), and Mediterranean-origin dishes that have since long celebrated Morocco’s diverse culture.
Here are some of the best Moroccan neighborhood local snacks!
The Moroccan Tajine is the undisputed list-topper here, and perhaps any other list! It may not look like a snack, but it can be!
Tajine is both the dish and the cooking pot. The pot is made of clay and mostly has a cone-shaped lid, sometimes ornamented with shapes and colors, this gives it its iconic look. What cooks inside the pot is the interesting part! It can be, basically, anything! So, you find different variations: tajine b’djaj, tajine b’lhem, tajine b’lhoot, tajine b’lkfta… and these make up the main ingredients of the dish, either chicken, lamb, beef, or even fish! The other ingredients are usually a colorful combination of veggies and spices, and sometimes, dried raisins, plums, and almonds.
Where can I find Tajine? Anywhere! "Just follow your nose", as Gandalf used to say. If you are in Marrakesh or Fez, for instance, your nose will take you to the medina, through its bustling souks and narrow alleyways, there you shall find
Even though this is not a snack per se, Couscous is a famous dish you can find in Moroccan neighborhood local snacks. This dish is too famous to be described here! A well-loved dish that's definitely a must-try!
Image Credit: Waran18, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sfenj, or in some places, Shfenj (funny name isn’t it!), are popular Moroccan fried doughnuts. You can find these almost anywhere, but not anytime. They are eaten for breakfast or in the afternoon for the goûter, a happy meal, or snack time around 4 pm for Moroccans. They are usually sprinkled with sugar and served with hot Moroccan mint tea.
These are particularly interesting! And they are my personal favorite. Some call it the "Moroccan French Fries", Ma’akouda is a batata (potato) pancake. It is mainly made using mashed potatoes, eggs, spices, and herbs. They can be eaten plain with a bit of mayonnaise or in sandwiches, and they are very child-friendly!
Harsha is a pan-fried flatbread made from semolina. Its name in Arabic literally means harsh or rough. This is because of its rough texture. Harsha is served hot or cold with honey, chocolate, jam, cheese, or amlou; a paste made from toasted almonds, honey, and argan oil.
Image Credit: إيان, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
M’semen is the constant companion of Harsha. It is a flat square-shaped multi-layered pancake made by laminating the unleavened dough. It has a crispy exterior and a soft chewy center. Also best served hot with tea, jam, or, especially, Moroccan butter called smen, from which the name of the pancake derives.
You can find them in bakeries or in street food shops.
Bissara and Harira are the most popular Moroccan soup duo. Bissara is made of fava beans and is mostly eaten for breakfast and in winter. It is more popular in the northern side of Morocco and is usually served in bowls topped with a layer of virgin olive oil and cumin.
Harira is an iconic Moroccan dish. It is a thick, abundantly seasoned soup made from tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, meat, and fresh herbs. It is an essential dish in Moroccan iftar during Ramadan, but you can find it drink it any time of the year.
Image Credit: Heddadi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ghriba is a beloved Moroccan cookie baked all year round! It is crispy and cracked on the outside, chewy and soft on the inside, and full of coconut or almond fragrance.
Chebakia is a rose-shaped pastry made of strips of dough, deep-fried, coated with honey, and sprinkled with sesame. Even though it is mainly made and served during Ramadan, you can still find it in bakeries and local snack shops.
This is a particularly funny name for a snack, even for Moroccans. Quite popular among people of the older days, this sweet is a special street snack that is sold by a wandering man who walks from place to place carrying a large tube around which there is a giant colorful sticky sweet, it is pretty much the candy version of chawarma. Small chunks of jaban koloban are chopped and served to kids, or anyone who is curious enough to know what it is exactly.
Cover Image Credit: HamZa NOUASRIA on Unsplash
