Just one of the many joys of staying at Riad Linda in Marrakech

Moroccan food is the cuisine of the Maghreb region, particularly Morocco. It is influenced by a number of cultures, including Berber, Arab, Moorish, and French cuisine. The country’s cuisine is typically a mix of spices, tagines, and couscous. Popular dishes include mechoui (lamb roast), pastilla (chicken pie), and harira (a soup made with chickpeas, lentils, and tomatoes). Marrakech is one of the best places to try Moroccan food, as the city is home to a number of traditional restaurants. However, it is also possible to find Moroccan-inspired dishes in many other parts of the world.

Moroccan cuisine is a rich and diverse culinary tradition that has been influenced by a variety of cultures over the centuries. Morocco is located in North Africa, and its food reflects the influence of the Arabs, Berbers, Persians, and Europeans who have all occupied the country at different times in history.

The national dish of Morocco is couscous, which is usually made with meat or vegetables and served with a spicy sauce. Other popular dishes include tagine, a stew cooked in a special clay pot, and pastilla, a filo pastry stuffed with meat or fish. With its tantalizing mix of sweet, savory, and spice, Moroccan food is truly unique and delicious. If you’re ever lucky enough to visit the country, be sure to sample some of its traditional fare. You won’t be disappointed!

Many celebrity chefs have now visited Morocco to find out for themselves the wonders of Moroccan cuisine.

Chef Gordon Ramsay Explores Morocco’s Cuisine

As part of a  6-part National Geographic series, “Gordan Ramsay: Uncharted” the celebrity chef and TV personality travelled throughout Morocco to experience the local culinary delights.

In the episode, Ramsay starts off exploring Morocco’s Atlas Mountains to get a taste of Amazigh (Berber) cuisine and culture. Along with Abdullah, a local who dubs himself the “King of Mushrooms,” Ramsey forages for mushrooms in the Middle Atlas mountains. 

Fitted in a climbing harness, Ramsay and the guide rappel down the length of a waterfall into a canyon. “I’m a big adventurer and I love mushrooms,” he says. “But that’s the scariest descent I’ve ever done for a mushroom.”

Gordon Ramsay's Journey Into Moroccan Food
Gordon Ramsay’s Journey Into Moroccan Food

Moving on from the Atlas Mountains, Ramsay turns his attention to Fez, one of Morocco’s most historic cities, commonly known as the “culture and culinary capital.” 

“Every bite is steeped in history,” Ramsay says while sampling medfouna, Moroccan stuffed bread, with local restaurateur Najat Kaanache. 

While they eat, Kaanache explains to Ramsay the deep history of the Amazigh people and how their attachment to their land lends the native flavors to every dish. Amazigh “land is where the people still have the traditions and the way of cooking,” says Kaanache.

Wanting to dive in deeper into Amazigh cuisine and tradition, Ramsay then visits an Amazigh village during their Yennayer (new year) celebration. While there, he enlists 9-year old local Fatima to be his “sous chef,” who then welcomes him into her grandmother’s home to learn even more.

The experience seemed to touch Ramsay, who finished off the episode by saying:

“I’ve been humbled by these people’s incredible hospitality. I’ve learned techniques that go back centuries and been reminded that you don’t need a fancy kitchen to produce truly outstanding cuisine”

Gordon Ramsay

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