The highlight of my time spent in Marrakech was definitely the walking food tour I took with Marrakech Food Tours. My favorite thing about the tour is that we visited places I know that I would not have discovered on my own. Places that maybe only locals know about. Places where the language barrier would have prevented me from ordering. Places that don’t have menus in English. Real, authentic Moroccan eateries with delicious traditional foods that I likely wouldn’t have found or tried on my own.
I met Amanda, one of the owners of the tour company, at the centrally located post office in Jemaah el Fna Square. Introductions were quickly made and I was happy to learn there was another blogger on the trip. Georgette from Girl in Florence and her husband would be joining us to eat our way through the city.
Also, check out my other article about the Chefchaouen: The Blue Pearl of Morocco.
Marrakech Food Tours
Roasted sheep
We quickly made our way through the square to our first stop where we learned we’d be trying roasted sheep. I’m always a fan of any kind of roasted meat but I have to admit the display out front was a bit intimidating.
The owner of the restaurant met with us and explained the cooking process and showed us the oven. The oven is actually located below the restaurant and is accessed through a hole in the floor. The unassuming entrance to the oven opens up into a huge cooking space. The interior could hold up to 40 sheep at a time for roasting. However, as it was explained, it is not common to cook this many at once. That is usually for weddings and festivals.
After being seated we were served two different dishes. First up was tangia which is sheep cooked in a clay pot. It was interesting to learn that the clay cooking dishes are actually buried overnight with the same charcoal that heats the hammams (bathhouses).
Next, we tried mechoui which is from the whole roasted sheep. No utensils were used- we tore into the dishes with our hands and scooped up the meat with the fresh bread that was served alongside our meal. The mechoui was also served with a roasted sheep head. We all eyed this plate nervously as we ate the dishes that weren’t staring back at us.
Finally, Amanda asked who wanted to be brave so of course, I volunteered. I began to try gently removing the meat before she demonstrated the proper way to go at it. You have to grab the lower mouth/jaw area and literally peel back the face of the sheep to get to the meat below.
I know it doesn’t sound appetizing but it was actually delicious, especially with the cumin and bread. This first stop of the tour was so great that I actually returned two days later with friends so they could try it. The second time we stuck to just the roasted meat and skipped the sheep head. Definitely one of the must-try things on Marrakech food tours.
Olive market
Next, we stopped at one of the many stalls in the medina selling olives. I really wish I liked olives, these were all so gorgeous. Some were spiced, some were sweeter, some were colorful, some looked like the ones I’m used to seeing. We also learned that Morocco is the world’s fourth-largest producer of olives.
Most Moroccan olives are not exported but instead consumed locally. I tried one just to be sure- I still don’t like olives. Everyone else agreed they were delicious.
Moroccan pizza
We continued making out way through the winding streets of the medina to our next shop to try msemmen omara. This is a flat pancake filled with onions and spices. It’s usually only prepared in the evenings as there is a plain one served in the morning and throughout the day.
It was really flavorful and delicious. I could easily see snacking on these while further exploring the shopping stalls found all throughout the medina.
Sardine sandwiches
When I heard the next stop was for sardine sandwiches (Hout Quari) I wasn’t excited. I don’t usually care for sardines. I figured I’d be polite, have a bite or two, and wait for the next stop. This turned out to be one of my favorite stops on the Marrakech food tours.
The sardines are deboned, seasoned, then made into something resembling a meatball. Next, they’re stuffed into bread and served as a sandwich. I was so busy inhaling the sandwich I didn’t even notice the hot sauce on the table that I could have added. Next time I’ll try with the hot sauce as that’s the only thing that could have made it better. And there will be a next time for this sandwich. It was truly delicious. I even tried looking for a similar shop in other Moroccan cities I visited but I couldn’t find one.
Homemade couscous
By this point of the tour, I was feeling full, really full. It’s a shame because our stop for couscous was with my favorite shop owners of the tour. Picture two grandmothers behind the counter of a small, dark restaurant that only serves two dishes.
They made a big fuss over Amanda when we first arrived. Lots of greetings, hugs, and kisses were exchanged as they chatted away. And, just like walking into any grandmother’s house, they soon started preparing a meal for us. They served us a huge shared portion of the most delicious vegetable couscous I’ve ever had. It was full of seasoned veggies and topped with caramelized onions and raisins. Sadly, as I mentioned the restaurant is fairly dark so no couscous photos! Trust me, it was delicious.
Stuffed spleen
Our last savory stop of the evening on our Marrakech food tours was for stuffed cow spleen. The spleen is filled with ground beef, other organs, spices and then roasted. Maybe it was because I was so full or maybe because I knew it was spleen before I ate it but this was just ok to me. I had a bite to try it and that was enough. But, judging from the way local people lined up for this dish, this must be a good version of it.
Ending on a sweet note
Our final stop was for fresh cookies and made-to-order smoothies. As I’ve said before I’m not much for sweets but these were pretty good as they’re not overly sweet. I loved the fresh smoothie though. There were several different varieties to choose from, even one known as Moroccan Viagra if you’re interested in that sort of thing. I went for a fruit smoothie and halved several cookies with the other tour guests. It was a great way to end a delicious tour.
Marrakech Food Tours: Book Your Tour
I would recommend this to be at the top of any itinerary for a Marrakech food tours trip. You’ll learn so much about the history of one of my new favorite cities and you’re guaranteed not to leave hungry. Bookings can be made by following this link.
The owner of the tour company has a story as interesting as the tour herself. She is an American ex-pat married to a local and together they are living and running a business in Marrakech. They have two children and are all avid world travelers. It was interesting to spend the evening chatting with her and learning her story. You can check out her blog at marocmama.com.
You can see more photos from Chris Griffiths at chrisgriffiths.eu
I would have eaten the roasted sheep, but skipped the head as well!
This sounds like an amazing day!! I agree with you on olives, not sure Moroccan would be any different, but I’m hopefully about the roasted sheep. I spent 2 years eating boiling mutton in Kyrgyzstan and never thought I would go near sheep again, but alas, maybe some roasted Moroccan sheep could tempt me!
How was Kyrgzstan? I know literally nothing about it. I do like mutton though!
Thank you for this information. I will be in Marrakech in December, so I’ll definitely book this food tour. Also I would totally eat the sheep head. I’m adventurous like that!
You’ll have a great time, it’s well worth it. I hope you remember afterwards to let me know how you enjoyed it. Also- please tell them I said hello!
I would skip the spleen, but I think I would try the sheep head, but I think I’d be able to handle the idea more if the meat was already broken up. Kudos for going for it, jaw ripping and all!!!
Hi Nathan!
Love this post!The olive market looks interesting to me and love to taste Moroccan pizza.The pancake of the pizza looks flaky to me.Is it?
Not so much flaky but more tortilla like. Very delicious though!
Ohhhh man I love a good food tour, and this one looks amazing! I’ll definitely take your recommendation when I go to Morocco. You take great photos of food, what camera to you use?
mine are all shot w/my iPhone 6s. There are some from a photographer that I credited but I don’t know what he shoots with!
Not sure if I could eat most of this, to be honest. But thanks for sharing and happy travels 🙂
If I ever visit marrakech I’ll surely try those.
Well I have to say the olives and the pizza would be my kind of food, but as for the rest? Well, let’s just say I’m not very adventurous when it comes eating the rest.
Thanks for sharing your experiences! I don’t know that I could do the sheep head or spleen but perhaps the roasted meat. You are more adventurous than I am!
Yikes!! That sheep’s head scared the $!(% out of me! hahaa… The food looks yummy though!
Wow. I am impressed I would have had my best poker face on for the sheep meal.
Oh wow, I thought I was adventurous with food until I read this! Haha, great post though, thanks for sharing.
This is a food tour I know I would enjoy, even eating the meat off the head. The olive market would have me swooning!
I really wish I liked olives– they were gorgeous. I keep trying but I just don’t!
I’m interested to know what goes into the Moroccan Viagra… haha. And I never thought about all the great restaurants I could be missing out on because a language barrier might prevent me from eating there. Great incentive to go on a food tour!
Food tours are the best! This one looks really fascinating. The sheep and the spleen – definitely foods I haven’t seen on a tour before, ever. Everything looks so good!
I always turn away from the head. I do not like the roasted meat so very much but head is a big no.
I’ll take the olives, couscous, and pizza. Will pass on the head and spleen. What a fun food tour.
I love a good food tour! Looks like your trip was a lot of fun 🙂
I am adventurous when it comes to food, but some of these things are a little too much for me! Maybe I would try the spleen, maybe. 😛
I reckon a food walking tour is the absolute most wonderful and fun way to experience the real side of a city or town. I like to think I am pretty adventurous when it comes to food, but not entirely sure I would be good with this. Perhaps with a few brews under my belt Id be okay. 🙂
How fantastic! I would love to do a tour like this.
Don’t you like olives? All the more for me! Actually, most dishes look very tempting.
I’ll take the olives, please! I could eat them all day, It seems like a very interesting tour!
After all the time we’ve spent together, how do I not know you hate olives?!
Damn, I missed smoothies, I hope you thought of me as you drank it lol 🙂
They are one of only a handful of things I don’t like- olives, beets, and fennel. You can have all the olives from breakfast on our Eastern European journey!
Nathan we were SO happy to meet you and I love this post! I really hope you come to Florence one of these days so we can show you around in style (and boozed up on wine).
baci from Italy! Georgette & Nico
STUNNING photos! Though some of those delicacies have a lot of “wow” factor, hehe.
I’m with you in not liking olives. I think there must be an olive-gene, you either have it, or you don’t. Olives look so bright shiny and delicious, tis a shame… sigh. I bet the sheep’s head meat tasted delicious even after getting passed the face-peeling hurdle. Thanks for a peek into this walking tour. What a fabulous way to see a city off the beaten path. Cheers, Kirsty
I hate that I don’t like olives– like you I think they’re so gorgeous. I was surprised at how much I actually liked the sheep head meat. I think most people would really like it if you didn’t tell them what it was.
This food tour looks awesome! I love that it’s authentic mom and pop kind of shops. I have never seen a stuffed spleen before and I’m kind of intrigued?! haha I also have sardine sandwich on my list now for when we visit. I didn’t picture that photo when I first read “Sardine Sandwich” and your description just seems so different than how sardines are generally eaten in the states. Thanks for the info!
The stuffed spleen was interesting but not my favorite dish but I loved the sardine sandwich! I ate it so fast that I forgot to put the hot sauce on it so now I want to go back just to have another sandwich and add the hot sauce!
I love Morocco and it is a one of the peaceful place in the World. Moreover, Morocco is one of the finest places for exploration tours. We visited Morocco last 4 months ago and we never felt risky there. It was outstanding and an unforgettable tour for us. The desert of Morocco, the Sahara Desert, has long fascinated people from all over the world.
I’m in! This is high on my list of fun things to do in Morocco! Been in touch with Amanda already. Hopefully we can find a way to get there in the fall. Thanks for sharing!
If you’ve already talked to Amanda then you’re in good hands! She’s really great and a lot of fun to work with.
The food looks so amazing. I really love a gopd food tour, as you say, it enables ypu to discover things you nay have otherwise missed. Will be sure to add these guys to our Marrakech list for the next trip.