Top 9 culinary specialities in Marrakech

Marrakech’s typical dishes bring out the best in the region’s produce. Gathered around a convivial table, you’ll enjoy sun-kissed vegetables cooked with sultanas, dates or almonds. The taste of meat and fish is enhanced by sweet and savoury blends and spices. Let’s talk about these extraordinary spices for a moment! A multitude of aromas are waiting to be discovered: cinnamon, chilli, coriander, saffron and ginger will broaden your taste horizons.

A rich culinary heritage awaits you in Marrakech.

Take a stroll through the Medina to admire the colourful delicacies and street food. Observe, smell and taste them all, if you dare! Stimuli are everywhere and will keep you hungry all day long. Gastronomy is considered an art form in Marrakech. The culinary specialities are adored for their aromas, their intense flavours and, above all, their great generosity.

What to eat in Marrakech Our selection of 9 Marrakech specialities

The specialities of Morocco and the recipes of the Maghreb meet and merge in Marrakech. All the more so as, throughout the world, North African dishes are often grouped under the anonymous umbrella of “Maghreb cuisine” or erroneously referred to as “Oriental cuisine”. Lovers of Moroccan cuisine will find out more about the history of these emblematic dishes and their rich recipes, handed down from generation to generation.

1. Msemen

Discover thick Moroccan-style pancakes during your stay in Marrakech. Msemens are served with many local specialities, as a sauce for a dish or as a wrapper for street food, for example. These savoury (or sweet, depending on taste) pancakes are characterised by their thickness, rich oil content and cooking on a cast-iron griddle.

2. Pastilla

Try the country’s emblematic poultry pastries! Pastillas are traditionally served at festive occasions. The thin, crispy pastry is stuffed with chicken or pigeon (most often), then flavoured with fresh herbs, eggs, almonds and spices. The pastilla is unique depending on where it is prepared. Rest assured, you won’t have to wait for local festivities to try it, as local restaurants now serve it all year round.

3. Tajine

A stay in Marrakech is bound to be accompanied by a delicious tagine! Hidden under an earthenware bell, you’ll be able to savour all the culinary traditions of the country. Tajine recipes abound: with meat, fish or vegetables. They are decorated with a wide range of spices, vegetables and/or fruit. In Morocco, the tagine is a symbol of abundance and conviviality. To enjoy it in the most typical way, eat your tagine carefully with your fingers, with the help of bread cakes.

4. Couscous

This dish of Berber origin has quickly become a culinary staple of the Maghreb. Your generous plate of durum wheat semolina will be topped with a stew of vegetables and various meats. Don’t panic if you’re a vegetarian, you’ll also be able to eat to your heart’s content. The vegetarian couscous is just as hearty, served with a mixture of courgettes, carrots, turnips, potatoes and chickpeas. Don’t hesitate to try several couscous during your stay, as there are different family recipes all over the city.

5. Tanjia

This is an ideal dish for meat lovers. Prepared in an eponymous earthenware jar, this speciality is made up of large pieces of meat coated in a saffron, cumin and ras-el-hanout marinade. To this is added a quartet: garlic, olive oil, preserved lemon and smen butter. Once the jar is generously filled, it is sealed with a sheet of paper and cooked over hot ashes overnight. Anecdotally, this dish was originally a male privilege, prepared and eaten by the men themselves at weekends. Today, tanjia is enjoyed by everyone, so don’t deprive yourself.

6. Briouates

Pronounced “briwats”, these are the typical Moroccan samoussas. You’ll recognise them by their triangular shape – or tube, on occasion – and their brick pastry wrapping. The latter gives them a pleasantly crispy texture, followed by a tender meat or vegetable filling. The most common briouates are chicken, cheese, tuna and minced meat. Enjoy them as an appetiser and a delicious introduction to the rest of the meal. Or, if you’re feeling a bit peckish, serve alongside a few fresh vegetables. Note that there is a sweet version of this speciality. If so, the pastry will seem sticky with syrup and will be sprinkled with sesame seeds or flaked almonds.

7. Pastries

A must in Marrakech, Moroccan pastries have made a name for themselves all over the world. Adored for their sheer indulgence, they are best eaten with the fingers, accompanied by a hot cup of mint tea. There are a multitude of varieties, including the famous gazelle horns, baklavas with pistachios or walnuts, baghrir, sellou, mhancha and many others. Marrackchi have no shortage of imagination when it comes to sublimating honey, dates and almonds. However, with such a high sugar content, we recommend that you eat them in moderation.

8. Amlou

Amlou is to the Maghreb what peanut butter is to the United States. What’s more, this delicious spread is excellent for your health. Traditional Amlou contains just 3 ingredients: roasted almond puree, argan oil and orange tree honey. For this reason, many marrackchi make their own, to accompany their breakfast. Taste it early in the morning to fill up on energy before your visits to the city.

9. Mint tea

Why drink water in Marrakech when you could be drinking tea? Oh, that’s right, there’s sugar again! In that case, mint tea will be the reward for a long day of exploring. Tea is by far the most important drink on your trip. The recipe is simple: water, green tea, fresh mint and (lots of) sugar. Served in small, slender glasses, tea is best accompanied by local pastries. More than just a break, mint tea is a symbol of hospitality. For this reason, there is always a teapot on the stove in Moroccan homes. Mint tea is also served during most activities in Marrakech, as a sign of sharing.