Moroccan Foods To Keep You Warm This Winter

You might think that Morocco is generally a warm country, therefore winters cannot be that hard to go through, but that’s not correct. While it’s true that in some parts like Casablanca or Rabat, winters aren’t that severe and temperatures only drop to around 12°C, but in other areas, especially towards the Atlas Mountains, it can actually get freezing cold.

Quite understandably, then, Moroccans have been trying to fight the cold with warm broths and soups for a long time. Here are the most delicious Moroccan foods that can help keep you warm this winter.

Harira

Of course harira is at the top of the list because who doesn’t love harira? This soup is made mainly during the month of Ramadan when Moroccans fast for a month, but it is also an excellent choice for winter time as it warms you up. It’s made with flour, tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, onions and meat – everything is mixed in a pot and cooked for around 2 and a half hours. This may seem a long time but it is well worth the wait!

In Morocco, this unnamed soup is made for women who have just given birth. It’s meant to soothe their pain, help them generate milk, and to keep them warm. It’s typically made by bringing milk to a boil, cracking an egg in it, and adding chia seeds and some salt. Although this soup is not as popular as some of the other soups and broths, it’s just as good!

Berkoukech

This soup can be found in Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco during winter time, because it is loved by many and keeps the whole family warm. Its ingredients include chickpeas, onions, tomato paste, carrots, courgette, and mhamsa (small pieces of pasta). Everything is cooked at medium heat for 40 minutes and voilà! Your own little bowl of Moroccan Berkoukes is ready to warm you up.

Bissara

Bissara is a warm soup that is eaten mainly for breakfast in winter. Although it was initially known as a meal for the poor, it has gradually made its way into the homes of all Moroccan families and restaurants. The soup is extremely easy to prepare, mainly made of broad beans, water, garlic, olive oil and some spices (cumin, red pepper and salt) – cooked for about an hour until it’s thick. There are also two other types of bissara: one made with semolina – called Bissara Tchicha in Morocco – and the other with green beans.

Milk mhamsa

This soup is actually sweet, and it is extremely easy to make. Like Berkoukech, it’s mainly made of mhamsa,cooked in milk. A sweetener is then added to it – Moroccans simply use sugar. Although quite simple, the soup is very tasty and the hot milk keeps you warm throughout the night.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.