When it comes to uniquely flavored food, you can’t beat Moroccan. This cuisine comes with many ingredients including mutton, beef, lamb, chicken and seafood. Some of the more common flavors are butter and olive oil.
But it doesn’t stop there. There are grains such as rice and wheat that are used to make things like bread and couscous.
Cumin, saffron, and turmeric are some of the common spices that are used, along with mint, coriander, and parsley herbs. There’s plenty to woo fans of pretty much any flavor and texture.
Well, we’re going to go deep and give you some of the best Moroccan cookbooks written by women that you can currently buy on the market.
Why Cook Moroccan Food?
The culture of Moroccan food is very different from the rest of the world, although it does bear some similarities to Middle Eastern cuisine in terms of the portion size and some of the flavorings that are used.
One of the more common dishes is a tagine, which is named after the earthenware pot that it comes served in. This dish can have a variety of ingredients and it varies depending on what region it is from.
For example, Tunisian tagine is very much like a frittata that you might find in Italy. Another common dish in Moroccan cuisine is couscous. This is featured as the main ingredient along with lamb, seafood and beef.
The only food that is rarely consumed is pork and that is due to religious reasons. Moroccan food is very healthy, as a lot of it is steamed and it features plenty of lean proteins in the form of meat.
A vast proportion of the Moroccan diet also features vegetables such as tomatoes, smoked green peppers, onions, lettuce, and carrots.
If you have looked at all the above and you like what you see, then you might want to keep reading, as we have a list of some of the best Moroccan cookbooks that you can buy, and they’re all written by female authors.
This first book focuses on one of the most popular meals in Morocco: the tagine. This is a one-pot meal that contains plenty of healthy and tasty ingredients and can be very versatile to make.
You can opt for lamb tagine, chicken tagine, or seafood tagine. There are also plenty of recipes that rely heavily on couscous, which is another Moroccan staple dish.
These recipes are comprehensive and it serves as a good foundation to build on your existing knowledge of Moroccan cuisine.
This next recipe book is perfect for those that are new to Moroccan cuisine. This has plenty of handy guides that will help guide you through every step of the cooking process.
It will also teach you how to create those classic Moroccan flavors using spices and herbs that you might already have in your kitchen.
This features a sumptuous color picture with every meal, so you can see the final product that you are trying to cultivate.
This features meats that are grilled to perfection, salads laced with herbs and spices, and sweet and savory treats for after dinner.
Pros
Great for beginners
Plenty of vivid color photographs
Details about life in Morocco
Shows you how to utilize spices and herbs
Cons
Some readers have claimed that the recipes for these dishes are too minimal
This next cookbook features traditional recipes that have been given a distinctly modern twist.
This is aimed at people who are just occasional home cooks who want to try something new, expert chefs who frequently change things up, or people studying culinary arts.
This book has a broad remit, going from Marrakech to Tangier, borrowing recipes from each.
This is also a travel book, so even if you are not culinary-minded, you can still sit back in your favorite armchair and savor the adventure that the author took.
Pros
This has a detailed guide to Morocco
Offers amazing recipes
Covers Morocco from coast to coast
Detailed photographs
Cons
Some readers have commented the ingredients are hard to find at their local supermarket
This is another cookbook that concentrates on Moroccan tagine, but still takes time to cater to complete beginners to the art.
This cookbook goes right back to basics, talking about the history and the evolution of tagines before detailing 75 delicious tagine variants.
This comes with plenty of amazing recipes, including chicken with olives, garlic-stuffed potatoes, and the classic mix of spices that is often dubbed ras el hanout in Morocco.
These recipes are very easy to comprehend, so even if you consider yourself a newbie chef, this book is not filled with too much technical cooking jargon.
Pros
Covers all the basic Moroccan dishes
Discusses the history of tagines
Dishes brimming with classic Moroccan flavors
Easy to prepare and cook
Cons
Some readers have complained that the food has turned out bland
This is the debut cookbook from the renowned Moroccan chef Nargisse Benkabbou. There are some amazing dishes here that you won’t find anywhere else.
This also takes a lot of traditional Moroccan dishes and gives them a contemporary spin.
There are plenty of dishes to get stuck into, whether it is peach ribs, chicken kebabs, orange blossom, goats’ cheese galette or roasted almond and rainbow couscous.
This also features a great recipe for mint-infused Moroccan tea.
Pros
A very accessible book for beginners to Moroccan cuisine
Observer Rising Star In Food Award 2018
Great dishes with color photographs
Easy to follow recipes
Cons
Some readers have claimed these recipes are not traditional
This next book tackles one of the main ingredients that is used in a lot of Moroccan dishes: couscous.
This also covers a lot of different aspects of Moroccan culture, from the food markets to the butcher’s shops.
There is a detailed story behind each of these recipes, followed by step-by-step instructions on how to prepare it properly.
It also shows you how to make several tagines including chicken, beef, and seafood.
Pros
A great starting point for Moroccan food
Easy to follow recipe guides
Covers the history of a lot of dishes
20 recipes that feature couscous alone
Cons
No pictures to show the final results
Best Female Chef Moroccan Cookbooks Buying Guide
When you are looking to buy a decent cookbook on Moroccan food, there will be a few must-haves:
Detailed Recipes
You won’t go far without having a detailed guide for making these dishes, which includes a list of ingredients and how to prepare the meal. Ideally, there should also be pictures showing the final result.
History
Some people like to read about the background of some of these dishes. Luckily, there are plenty of books above that combine the disciplines of cooking and history.
Conclusion
We hope that our guide to the best Moroccan cookbooks written by women has helped you decide which one is the best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moroccan Food Spicy?
In general, Moroccan food is not that spicy. It comes made with plenty of spices, but most of those are blended in such a way that they do not result in a hot taste.
What Does Moroccan Food Taste Like?
The flavors in Moroccan food can range from sweet to spicy. Some of these dishes also have an earthy taste.
I'm Barbara Hunt, the founder of WomenChefs.org. Being a mom of two, I understand the challenges of meal planning and the monotony it can bring.
That's why I created WomenChefs.org, a platform dedicated to showcasing the skills and delicious dishes crafted by amazing women. My goal is to provide a space where women can find delectable recipes that tantalize their taste buds and ignite their senses.
I hope you'll join me in exploring WomenChefs.org and discovering your next favorite recipe. Let's embrace culinary diversity and try something new together!
