“Casablanca: My Moroccan Food” – 100 Authentic Recipes

Why Choose “Casablanca: My Moroccan Food”?

What Is the Background of the Author?

Nargisse Benkabbou, the author of “Casablanca: My Moroccan Food,” grew up in a food-centric family in Morocco. This upbringing nurtured her deep connection with Moroccan cuisine. Her blog, MyMoroccanFood.com, showcases her family recipes and innovative cross-cultural dishes. This cookbook is a reflection of her passion and expertise in Moroccan food.

• Authored by Nargisse Benkabbou
• Inspired by a food-oriented Moroccan upbringing
• Features family recipes and cross-cultural creations

What Can You Expect from This Cookbook?

“Casablanca” offers 100 recipes that make Moroccan cuisine accessible and inspiring. The book includes recipes for starters, vegetarian dishes, meat, poultry, seafood, bread, and sweets. Each section is carefully curated to provide a comprehensive guide to Moroccan cooking.

• 100 authentic Moroccan recipes
• Categories include starters, vegetarian, meat, poultry, seafood, bread, and sweets
• Comprehensive guide to Moroccan cuisine

How Does the Cookbook Introduce Moroccan Cuisine?

Benkabbou introduces readers to the essential elements of Moroccan cuisine, such as Ras el Hanout spice mix, preserved lemons, harissa paste, scented waters, couscous, chermoula, and Moroccan tea. She explains how to prepare these foundational components, making the recipes approachable for home cooks.

• Explanation of essential Moroccan ingredients
• Step-by-step guide to making foundational elements
• Accessible recipes for home cooks

What Starters Can You Learn to Make?

The starters section includes recipes like roasted red pepper and preserved lemon salad with butter beans, serrouda (chickpea dip), sweet potato and feta maakouda (potato cakes), and grandma’s broad bean and zucchini salad. These dishes are perfect for sharing and provide a flavorful introduction to Moroccan cuisine.

• Roasted red pepper and preserved lemon salad
• Serrouda (chickpea dip)
• Sweet potato and feta maakouda
• Grandma’s broad bean and zucchini salad

What Vegetarian Dishes Are Included?

Vegetarian dishes in the cookbook feature baghrir (pancake) with crème fraiche and chestnut mushrooms, Moroccan eggs Florentine with harissa hollandaise, and root vegetable and prune tagine. These recipes highlight the rich flavors and diverse ingredients of Moroccan vegetarian cuisine.

• Baghrir with crème fraiche and chestnut mushrooms
• Moroccan eggs Florentine with harissa hollandaise
• Root vegetable and prune tagine

What Meat Recipes Are Available?

For meat lovers, the book offers recipes such as Mama’s harira (soup), my grandfather’s mechoui (lamb) with yoghurt and mint sauce, and orange zest and turmeric lamb chops. These dishes are hearty and packed with traditional Moroccan flavors.

• Mama’s harira (soup)
• My grandfather’s mechoui (lamb)
• Orange zest and turmeric lamb chops

What Poultry Recipes Can You Try?

Poultry recipes include chorba beida (white chicken soup), chicken, carrot and charred lemon tagine, spicy chicken livers, and duck and cannellini bean casserole with caraway and dried figs. Each recipe showcases the unique spices and cooking methods of Moroccan cuisine.

• Chorba beida (white chicken soup)
• Chicken, carrot, and charred lemon tagine
• Spicy chicken livers
• Duck and cannellini bean casserole with caraway and dried figs

What Seafood Recipes Are Featured?

Seafood lovers will enjoy fragrant seafood and tomato tagine, merguez-stuffed squid in tomato sauce, and monkfish tagine with apricots, dates, and fennel. These recipes combine fresh seafood with bold Moroccan spices and flavors.

• Fragrant seafood and tomato tagine
• Merguez-stuffed squid in tomato sauce
• Monkfish tagine with apricots, dates, and fennel

What Bread Recipes Are Included?

Bread recipes include wholemeal mahrash bread, mkhamer (skillet bread), seeded harcha (“scone”), and cumin and buttermilk cornbread. These recipes provide a variety of traditional Moroccan breads to complement any meal.

• Wholemeal mahrash bread
• Mkhamer (skillet bread)
• Seeded harcha (“scone”)
• Cumin and buttermilk cornbread

What Sweets Can You Make?

Sweets in the cookbook feature pistachio, orange, and olive oil flourless loaf cake (gluten- and dairy-free), ktefa (filo pastry with custard), Ras el Hanout carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and jabane (nougat). These desserts offer a delightful end to any Moroccan meal.

• Pistachio, orange, and olive oil flourless loaf cake
• Ktefa (filo pastry with custard)
• Ras el Hanout carrot cake with cream cheese frosting
• Jabane (nougat)

Why Is This Cookbook Perfect for Both Novices and Experienced Cooks?

“Casablanca: My Moroccan Food” is ideal for anyone interested in Moroccan cuisine. Whether you’re familiar with Moroccan food or looking to expand your culinary horizons, this cookbook provides detailed recipes and clear instructions. The inclusion of essential elements and step-by-step guides makes it accessible to both novice and experienced cooks.

• Ideal for novices and experienced cooks
• Detailed recipes with clear instructions
• Accessible and inspiring