Morocco

🇲🇦Morocco

Khoudenjal Tea

خودنجال

A Moroccan infusion of galangal and warming spices, brewed as a fragrant after-meal drink.

🇲🇦Morocco

Krachel (Sweet Anise Rolls)

كراكش

Soft Moroccan anise and sesame rolls enriched with orange blossom, served at breakfast or tea.

🇲🇦Morocco

Lham Barkouk (Lamb with Prunes)

لحم بالبرقوق

Lamb simmered with prunes, cinnamon, and toasted almonds in a glossy sweet-savoury Moroccan sauce.

🇲🇦Morocco

Lham Mrouzia

لحم مروزية

Eid lamb braised with raisins, honey, saffron, and almonds until the sauce becomes dark and sticky.

🇩🇿Algeria

Loubia

A Moroccan white bean stew simmered with tomato, garlic, paprika, and cumin.

🇲🇦Morocco

M'hanncha (Snake Cake)

محنشة

A coiled Moroccan pastry filled with almond paste, orange blossom, and cinnamon, baked until crisp.

🇲🇦Morocco

Maakouda (Potato Fritters)

مقودة

Seasoned potato patties dipped in egg and fried until crisp, sometimes stuffed or served in sandwiches.

🇲🇦Kairouan, Morocco

Makrout

مقروض

Semolina pastry wrapped around date paste, fried or baked, and finished with honey; named forms are shared across the Maghreb.

🇮🇱Israel

Matbucha

מטבוחה

Slow-cooked salad of tomatoes and roasted peppers with garlic and chilli, reduced for hours until it is dark and jammy, served cold.

🇪🇭Western Sahara

Mechoui

مشوي

Whole lamb slow-roasted over coals until the skin is crisp and the meat pulls away from the bone.

🇮🇱Israel

Medjool Dates

תמר מג'הול

Medjool dates originated in Morocco’s Tafilalt oasis and are now cultivated in the Jordan Valley and around the Dead Sea, where large soft fruits ripen in autumn.

🇲🇦Morocco

Meloui

ملوي

A Moroccan spiral flatbread made by rolling and folding oiled dough into flaky layers before griddling.

🇩🇿Algeria

Mesfouf

مسفوف

Light steamed couscous tossed with butter, sugar, dried fruit, or pomegranate and served for breakfast or gatherings.

🇲🇦Morocco

Meskouta (Orange Cake)

مسكوتة

A Moroccan home cake made from beaten eggs, flour, and citrus zest, baked until springy.

🇲🇦Morocco

Mkhartek

مخارط

A Moroccan fried pastry strip, similar to chebakia, soaked in honey and sesame. A festive and Ramadan staple, sweet and crispy, a national treat, served with mint tea, a party and Eid classic, a pastry, a honeyed sweet.

🇪🇭Western Sahara

Mreifisa

Mreifisa is a named Sahrawi meat stew of lamb, rabbit, or camel served over unleavened bread baked in hot sand; the broth is poured over the bread while the meat is served separately.

🇲🇦Morocco

Msemen

مسمن

Square layered Moroccan flatbread made by stretching, folding, and pan-frying oiled dough.

🇲🇦Morocco

Nous-Nous (Half-Half Coffee)

نص نص

A Moroccan café drink of half coffee and half milk, a French-influenced staple. A daily and social drink, creamy and strong, a national and urban classic, a morning and café ritual, a popular coffee variant.

🇲🇦Morocco

Pastilla (B'stilla)

بسطيلة

Festive Moroccan pastry of thin warqa layered around spiced poultry, seafood, or a sweet-savoury filling.

🇲🇦Morocco

Preserved Lemon

ليمان مصير

Lemons cured in salt and their own juice until the peel turns soft, floral, and intensely savoury.

🇲🇦Morocco

Raib

A Moroccan cultured milk, thick and tangy, similar to a drinkable yogurt.

🇩🇿Algeria

Ras el Hanout

رأس الحانوت

A Moroccan spice blend whose shop-specific mix may include cumin, ginger, pepper, cinnamon, and turmeric.

🇲🇦Morocco

Rfissa

رفيسة

Shredded msemen or trid covered with chicken, lentils, fenugreek, and an aromatic onion broth.

🇲🇦Morocco

Rfissa Medhoussa

رفيسة مدحوسة

A Moroccan rfissa served over crumbled harcha instead of msemen, a regional and home variant. A comfort and post-birth dish, hearty and aromatic, a national and traditional classic, a rustic and family dish, a specialty.

🇲🇦Morocco

Rghaif (Layered Flatbread)

رغايف

Hand-stretched Moroccan layered flatbread cooked plain or around a savoury filling.

🇩🇿Algeria

Seffa

السفة

A celebration mound of steamed couscous or vermicelli finished with butter, sugar, cinnamon, and almonds.

🇲🇦Morocco

Seffa with Vermicelli

السفة بالشعيرية

A Moroccan seffa made with vermicelli instead of semolina, sweetened with sugar, cinnamon, and almonds. A festive and home dish, sweet and aromatic, a national variant, a celebration and tea-time dish.

🇲🇦Morocco

Sellou (Sfouf)

سلو

Roasted flour mixed with almonds, sesame, honey, and spices into a crumbly Moroccan energy paste.

🇲🇦Morocco

Sfenj (Moroccan Doughnuts)

سفنج

Moroccan yeasted dough rings fried until irregular, airy, and crisp, then eaten hot with sugar or honey.

🇪🇬Egypt

Shakshuka

شكشوكة

Eggs poached in a simmering tomato, pepper, onion, garlic, and chilli sauce, with regional names and seasonings across North Africa.

🇲🇦Morocco

Smen (Preserved Butter)

سمن

Moroccan butter clarified and aged with salt and aromatics until it develops a strong savoury perfume.

🇲🇦Morocco

Snail Soup (Babbouche)

ببوش

Moroccan snails simmered in a dark, cumin-heavy broth with paprika and aromatic herbs.

🇦🇪United Arab Emirates

Stuffed Dates

تمر محشي

Stuffed dates are Emirati sweets filled with nuts or cream cheese; the dates hold a generous filling and can remain moderately sweet.

🇲🇦Morocco

Tafarnout (Amazigh Bread)

تافارنوت

Amazigh semolina bread baked against the wall or floor of a hot clay oven until smoky and blistered.

🇪🇭Western Sahara

Tagine

طاجين

Slow-cooked Moroccan food prepared in a shallow earthenware dish with a conical lid, from vegetables to meat.

🇲🇦Morocco

Tagine with Jben (Goat Cheese)

طاجين الجبن

A Moroccan tagine with jben (fresh goat cheese), vegetables, and sometimes meat, a regional specialty. A creamy, savory dish, a mountain and rural classic, served with bread, a unique tagine variant.