42 Best Moroccan Side Dishes
If you are looking for some new and exciting side dishes to add to your repertoire, then you have to try these 42 best Moroccan side dishes.
Moroccan cuisine is known for its vibrant flavors, rich spices, and fresh ingredients.
From hearty stews to light salads, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
And these side dishes are the perfect way to round out any meal.
So if you are ready to explore some new flavors, then keep reading!
42 Best Moroccan Side Dishes
When it comes to Moroccan cuisine, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the perfect side dish:
- First, consider the flavors you want to include. Do you want something sweet, savory, or spicy?
- Second, think about the texture of the dish. A creamy couscous or a crispy flatbread can both be delicious choices.
- And lastly, consider how the side dish will be served. If you’re serving a light salad or soup, a heavier bread or rice dish might not be the best choice.
Here are 42 of the best Moroccan side dishes:
Moroccan Spiced Roasted Cauliflower
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/316096467607558070/This side dish is not only delicious, but it also has a ton of health benefits and will help you feel great after eating it.
This dish is made with red pepper flakes, diced tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, turmeric and other spices.
You can easily add in some more veggies like carrots or potatoes if you want to make it healthier and more filling for your body!
The best part about this side dish is that it tastes amazing!
It’s such a simple recipe that anyone can follow along with and make at home without any extra help needed from others around them while they cook it up (which is always nice when you’re cooking alone).
You’ll also notice how vibrant all of the colors are in each bite that comes out of this dish which makes it look really pretty when serving up family style at dinner parties or just having someone over for dinner on Saturday night while watching TV together on the couch together with your spouse/partner/friend(s).
Moroccan-Spiced Roasted Carrots
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/85779567892288522/I have to admit, I’m a little biased when it comes to this side dish.
It’s not just because I love carrots—although that’s a big part of it—but also because this particular recipe is one of the first things I learned to cook when I visited Morocco.
The flavors are so simple, but they work so well together, and the carrots always come out crispy and flavorful!
The ingredients are simple: dill yogurt sauce, greens (I like spinach), smoked paprika, avocado oil, cinnamon.
You can use any kind of oil you want (olive oil would be great), but avocado oil is my personal favorite because it has such a rich flavor that goes well with the spices in the dish.
You can make the sauce ahead of time and keep it in your fridge until you’re ready to use it.
Then all you need to do is roast those carrots until they’re nice and golden brown around the edges—and voila!
You’ve got yourself a side dish that will go perfectly with whatever else you’re serving up on Thanksgiving or Christmas (or any other holiday).
Moroccan Roasted Potatoes
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/467178161347875677/The first time I tried these potatoes, I was a little nervous.
They sound weird, and they have a lot of ingredients that aren’t things I’m used to using in cooking.
But once I made them for the first time, I realized that they were actually pretty easy!
And they taste amazing!
The main flavor of these potatoes comes from cinnamon, turmeric, and cayenne pepper—all spices that are really popular in Moroccan cooking.
They give the potatoes a slightly spicy kick that goes great with anything you’re eating.
And if you want them to be extra spicy?
Just add more cayenne pepper!
You can make these potatoes with just three ingredients: olive oil, garlic powder (which adds flavor), and salt (which adds flavor).
That’s it!
Then just toss everything together in a bowl and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until golden brown on top.
Moroccan Spiced Cauliflower & Almond Soup
Another one of my favorite Moroccan sides is Moroccan spiced cauliflower & almond soup.
It’s made with harissa paste, cinnamon, olive oil, flaked almonds, and chicken stock.
I like serving this with a main dish like chicken or lamb because of the sweetness from the almonds and cauliflower.
This is also great for parties because you can make a big batch ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it!
Zaalouk (Moroccan Eggplant Salad)
Zaalouk is made with salad, olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, and cayenne pepper.
The flavor of zaalouk is very similar to baba ganoush (the classic middle eastern eggplant dip), but with a bit more spice and a little less smokiness.
The texture is smooth and creamy, and it’s easy to make!
You just have to chop up some ingredients, blend them together in a food processor or blender, then let them sit in the fridge overnight so they can soak up all of the good flavors.
You can serve this as a side dish with any meal—it’s especially great with lamb or chicken!
But if you’re looking for something lighter than meat, try making this recipe with cauliflower instead of eggplant—it tastes just as good!
You can also add some chopped parsley if you like it even more colorful!
This dish is super easy to make at home (and even easier if you use frozen vegetables instead of fresh ones).
You can whip up this yummy dish when you don’t have much time or energy but still want something delicious on your plate.
Moroccan Carrot Salad
This recipe is so easy to make, and it’s packed with flavor.
You just need some carrots, olive oil, sumac, lemon juice, and sea salt—that’s it! It can be served as a side dish or a salad.
The best part about this salad?
The crunchy texture of the carrots combined with the nutty flavor of the sumac makes this dish one you’ll want to make again and again.
If you like spicy food, you can also add some jalapeños or red pepper flakes!
The recipe is pretty simple:
- Just grate the carrots into thin strips by hand or in a food processor.
- Then toss them with olive oil and sumac until they’re well coated.
- Add in some lemon juice and sea salt for seasoning before serving immediately (or refrigerating for later).
Moroccan Carrot & Chickpea Salad
This Moroccan carrot & chickpea salad is colorful, flavorful, and easy to make.
It’s also a great way to use up leftover carrots if you have them!
To make this side dish, you’ll need orange juice, honey, carrots, cinnamon, olive oil.
As far as ingredients go, that’s about it!
The rest is easy peasy: just throw everything into a bowl and mix until combined.
You can serve the salad immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days for maximum flavor retention.
This salad has a nice balance of sweet and savory flavors—the sweetness from the carrots and orange juice is balanced out by the savory-ness of the olive oil and cinnamon.
The texture is also really interesting—the orange juice gives it a juicy bite while the olive oil makes it creamy in your mouth.
I think this would be delicious served with any type of meat or poultry dish—it would be especially nice with chicken or lamb on top!
Honey Glazed Moroccan Carrots
The recipe calls for baby carrots, feta cheese, honey and olive oil.
It can be made with fresh mint instead of dried, but I found that dried herbs work just as well in this dish.
The carrots are boiled in water until soft but not mushy, then drained and mixed with the other ingredients until coated evenly.
The result is a sweet and savory side dish that pairs perfectly with some roasted chicken or grilled fish.
The texture is chewy without being hard or crunchy—perfect for people who don’t like their veggies too crunchy or soggy!
And while the flavor may sound unusual at first (feta cheese?), it really works well with honey-roasted vegetables.
Classic Moroccan Tomato Salad
Another little side dish that I think you should try is a classic Moroccan tomato salad.
This dish is really simple to make, but it has a lot of flavor.
You can add it to any meal, or even just serve it by itself.
The ingredients are cherry tomatoes, red onion, olive oil, and cilantro.
The texture is crunchy and juicy—I love how it feels in my mouth!
Moroccan Beet Salad
I’ve been eating this salad for years, and it’s one of my favorites.
It’s super easy to make and has an amazing texture and flavor.
It’s also really versatile—you can serve it as a side dish or as the main dish!
The first step is to cook your beets in orange juice until they’re tender.
Then you can add red onion and olive oil, along with some orange zest if you want to give it more of an orange flavor.
You can also add salt if you want a little more saltiness in your salad—I don’t recommend adding too much though, because the beets will already have plenty of natural saltiness on their own!
If you want something crunchy in your salad, try adding walnuts or almonds instead of just olive oil.
You could also try mixing different types of nuts together for variety!
If you’re looking for a little more protein in your meal, try adding chicken or shrimp into your Moroccan beet salad—it’s delicious either way!
Moroccan Lentil Salad
This salad is an easy side dish that can be added to almost any meal, and it’s delicious.
If you’ve never tried lentils before, they’re a great source of protein and fiber, plus they taste great!
The flavors here are simple: red wine vinegar, maple syrup, green lentils, orange slices and dried apricots (which are optional).
You don’t need a lot of extra ingredients or time to make this dish come together: just cook up some lentils and add them to your salad bowl with some oranges and apricots.
This recipe is great for anyone who wants a healthy way to add more plant-based protein into their diet without spending too much time in the kitchen.
And if you want to get really fancy with it?
You could add a little bit of cilantro or mint for extra color and flavor!
Moroccan Olives with Harissa
This Moroccan side dish is all about getting creative with your olives.
The first thing you’ll need is preserved lemon, which is basically a lemon that’s been preserved in salt water so it stays good for longer.
You can find it at most grocery stores—just look in the “international” section or on top of the produce section (preserved lemons are often stored in jars).
Next, you need harissa, which is a spicy paste made from ground red peppers and garlic.
If you don’t have any harissa around, you can use cayenne pepper instead!
Then mix everything together in a bowl with some olive oil and caraway seeds (you can find them at most grocery stores too).
Sprinkle some salt on top if you want!
This dish goes well with pretty much anything—I’ve seen it served alongside roasted chicken or grilled fish before.
But my favorite way to eat it is just by itself as an appetizer!
Spicy Orange Salad – Moroccan Style
When I was in Morocco, I had a salad like this one every single day.
It’s so good!
It’s got an amazing combination of flavors and textures, and it’s super easy to make.
First, you need some red wine vinegar and olive oil.
Then you need black olives (I like Kalamata).
The other ingredients are garlic, black pepper, and orange juice.
The flavor is bright and acidic because of the vinegar, while the texture is crunchy from the olives and soft from the oranges.
It’s also spicy—the black pepper adds just enough heat to make it feel like an adventure!
This dish is perfect for an appetizer or side dish because it’s light enough that you can eat a lot of it without feeling heavy afterward.
The best part?
You can add any other ingredients that you want: avocado, tomato slices… whatever sounds good!
Moroccan Salad (Taktouka)
If you’re looking for something to serve with your meal, I’d highly recommend giving Moroccan salad (taktouka) a try.
I love this dish because it’s colorful, bright, and delicious.
It can go with just about anything—you can even use it as a side dish for chicken or fish!
The ingredients are simple: fresh green peppers, fresh tomatoes, red pepper and olive oil.
But the way those ingredients come together is amazing.
The peppers add crunchy texture and a little bit of spice; the tomatoes add sweetness; and the red pepper adds heat.
The olive oil adds richness to all of these flavors.
Finally, garlic adds depth and helps bring everything together into one cohesive dish that will make your mouth happy!
This is also an easy recipe to customize based on what you have in your fridge—you can add more or less of each ingredient depending on how much time you want to spend on cooking or how many people you’re serving!
Moroccan Couscous with Roasted Vegetables Chick Peas and Almonds
This Moroccan side is delicious, easy to make, and has the perfect combination of flavors.
It’s great for fall or winter because it’s cozy and warming (coconut milk!), but it also works for spring or summer because it has fresh veggies like zucchini and red bell pepper.
The couscous itself has a nutty taste that goes well with the sweetness of the roasted vegetables—I love how they pair together!
And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can add some lemon juice to give it an extra kick!
I love serving this at parties because it’s so versatile: you can make it ahead of time and just reheat when your guests arrive.
It also makes a great side dish for chicken or lamb!
Moroccan Peanut Couscous with Peas
This recipe is so easy, and it has a really unique flavor that you’re going to love!
You just need some couscous, peanut butter, chicken broth (I like to use low-sodium), green bell pepper, and frozen peas.
To make it super easy, I recommend using pre-prepared couscous.
You can find the kind with the seasoning packet in the refrigerated section at your grocery store.
It’ll save you lots of time!
Then just sauté your veggies in a little olive oil until they’re tender but not soft (they’ll keep cooking after they’re done cooking).
Add your chicken broth and simmer until it starts to thicken up a little bit (about 10 minutes).
Then add your frozen peas and cook for another 5 minutes or so until they’re warmed through.
Take out your couscous and toss it with some peanut butter (the crunchy kind works best!).
Then add it back into your pot with the rest of your ingredients—you can adjust the amount of peanut butter based on how much couscous you’ve got left over from the original package!
Moroccan-Style Vegetable Couscous
This dish is gluten-free, so it’s great for anyone who has dietary restrictions or preferences.
It’s made with sweet potato, zucchini, sambal oelek, and tomato paste—all things that are readily available in most grocery stores.
The flavor is light but flavorful, and the texture is slightly chewy.
You can make this couscous dish in less than 30 minutes!
The only tricky part of making this recipe is cooking the vegetables and spices together just right so they don’t burn before they’re done cooking through—so make sure to pay attention as you’re cooking them!
Otherwise, this dish should be pretty straightforward to make.
It would be great for any occasion where you want to serve something healthy but hearty at the same time: weddings, birthdays, holidays… even just a regular old Sunday dinner!
Couscous with Pistachios and Apricots
I’ve never been a huge fan of couscous, but this recipe has changed my mind.
It’s simple to prepare, and it has all the flavors I love: apricots, pistachios, harissa, and red onion.
The ingredients are inexpensive, so you can make it on any given night without breaking the bank.
The texture is so soft and light—it almost melts in your mouth!
And it’s not too spicy or sweet, which makes it great for kids as well as adults.
Plus, you can add other vegetables if you want something more substantial in your side dish.
I would definitely recommend trying this out if you’re looking for an easy dish that’s different from the usual mashed potatoes or rice pilafs you might be used to serving at home.
Maakouda Batata: Moroccan Potato Cakes
Maakouda Batata is a delicious side dish that you should definitely try if you haven’t already.
It’s basically a potato cake made with butter, olive oil, eggs, garlic, and turmeric.
It’s so good because it has this amazing combination of flavors and textures that makes it a perfect side to serve with your main course.
I think everyone should make it at least once because it’s so easy to make and you can use any kind of potato you want!
You can even add other ingredients like onions or spices if you want to mix things up a bit.
You’ll get the best results if you make these cakes on an oiled pan so they don’t stick together when cooking!
You can also make them bigger for serving as an appetizer or smaller for serving as a side dish—it’s really up to you!
The best part about this dish is how versatile it is—you can serve it with any type of cuisine (like Moroccan or Indian) or just eat them plain!
So go ahead and give this recipe a try—I promise you won’t regret it!
Moroccan White Bread (Khobz)
I also think you should try Moroccan White Bread (known in Moroccan as khobz) to serve with your meal.
It’s a type of bread that is made from bread flour, semolina, olive oil, hot water, and yeast.
The flavor of this bread is delicious—it’s soft and buttery, but not too sweet.
The texture is also quite interesting: it kind of reminds me of a pizza crust because it has some chewiness to it, but also a lightness that makes it easy to eat.
This recipe requires some time to make, so if you’re looking for something quick and simple, this isn’t the side dish for you!
But if you have the time and want to try something new and delicious, give this recipe a go!
You can even add different ingredients like raisins or nuts if you like!
You can serve this bread with just about anything: chicken or fish dishes will go great with it; so will salads or soups.
Moroccan Olive Flatbread
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/443886107031279832/Moroccan Olive Flatbread is a great side dish if you’re looking for something that’s a little different from the norm.
It’s also pretty easy to make, even if you’ve never made bread before.
The flavor of this flatbread is savory and comforting, but it’s also got a hint of sweetness that comes from the sugar in the recipe.
The bread itself is very light and fluffy—it feels like eating air!
The bread is nice and soft on the inside, with a crispy outer layer.
The best part about this flatbread?
It goes well with just about anything!
I’ve tried it with soups, stews, and even salads.
This flatbread has a lot going on with just four simple ingredients: curry powder (you can use any kind), olive oil, flour, and sugar.
You’ll also need garlic powder for added flavor (and some people add cumin too).
You’ll want to make sure that your liquid ingredients are room temperature before starting so that your yeast will activate properly—this means no hot water or milk straight from the fridge!
Moroccan Couscous Cakes
Moroccan Couscous Cakes are a delicious side dish that are perfect to serve with your meal.
The couscous cakes are made of garlic, eggs, ras el hanout spice mix, and a red bell pepper.
I think they’re best served with a salad or some other light side dish to balance out the flavor.
They’re also great on their own!
They have an interesting texture that you can really sink your teeth into—the little nubs of couscous give it some grit but not in a bad way.
If you’re not sure how to cook them or if they seem intimidating, don’t worry—they’re actually really easy!
All you need is a spoonful of olive oil in the pan (or whatever kind of oil you like), then add the ingredients together.
Let them cook for about five minutes on each side until they’re nice and browned.
If you want to make these even more adventurous, try adding some different spices like curry powder or paprika powder (and maybe even some chili flakes).
You can also try changing up the vegetables depending on what’s available where you live.
Moroccan Vegetable Salad
This Moroccan Vegetable Salad has a great flavor, and it’s easy to make—and it can be added to almost any meal.
The ingredients include white wine vinegar, green bell peppers, lemon, and red onion.
It also requires olive oil.
The flavor is great—it’s tangy but not too tart.
You’ll love the texture—it’s crunchy from all of the vegetables and soft from the onions.
And it’s easy to make!
You can use almost any type of vegetable or herb that you like in this recipe; just keep an eye on how much oil you use so that your salad doesn’t become too oily or mushy.
The hardest part about making this salad is chopping up all of those veggies!
I think my favorite part about this salad is that it pairs well with almost any kind of meat dish (especially grilled chicken).
It would also go great with seafood or even some vegetarian dishes—like pasta primavera!
This dish would also be great at any occasion: dinner parties, picnics in the park on hot summer days… really anything goes!
Moroccan Roasted Potatoes
In Morocco, this dish is typically served with lamb tagine, but it can be served with any meat or vegetable dish.
The potatoes are roasted in olive oil with cinnamon and turmeric, which give them a sweet flavor and beautiful orange color.
They are then seasoned with cayenne pepper and garlic powder for an extra kick of heat and flavor.
You can also add other spices (such as paprika) if you want more spice in your life!
This recipe is relatively easy to make—you just need to peel some potatoes, slice them into cubes, toss them in olive oil, lay them out on a baking sheet…and then roast them!
It’s really that simple!
You’ll have enough time between steps to get everything ready for dinner before popping these babies into the oven for about 45 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 Celsius).
These potatoes go great with anything from lamb tagine to chicken tikka masala—they’re a nice change of pace from regular mashed potatoes or french fries.
Moroccan Harissa Chili Paste
Harissa is a sweet and spicy chili paste that’s been used in Morocco since forever.
It’s made with fiery chiles, garlic, and spices, and it’s a great way to add a punch of flavor to any dish.
I recommend serving it on top of pasta, with chicken or seafood, or even as a dip for bread!
It’s also really easy to make—you just need some dried red chiles de arbol and orange rinds (which you can usually find at your local grocery store).
Once you’ve got those things together, place them in a food processor and pulse until smooth.
Then just add water! You’ll have harissa in no time.
You can also add other ingredients like rose water, which gives it an extra dimension of flavor; red bell peppers; smoked paprika; or even some lemon juice if you want something different from what we usually see at our kitchen tables around here.
Moroccan Mallow Salad
Here’s another side dish that is easy to make and full of flavor.
It has preserved lemon, olive oil, red onion, lemon juice and mix.
The texture is soft and the flavor is sweet from the preserved lemon, but with a little spice from the red onion and cayenne pepper.
It’s a great way to add some color to your plate!
You can also add other ingredients like green olives or chickpeas if you want to make it more filling or just want to switch things up a bit!
This dish goes well with any kind of meat or fish dish as well as vegetarian options like lentils or couscous salad!
It’s incredibly versatile and easy enough for even beginners!
Moroccan Sardine Balls – Fish Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
If you’re looking for a side dish that’s different from the usual, I’d recommend trying out Moroccan sardine balls.
It’s a great way to add some flair to your meal!
The recipe calls for boneless fish fillets, ginger, olive oil, green pepper, and garlic.
You can use any type of fish fillet you want (my favorite is salmon), but I really like the texture that sardines give the meatball when they’re cooked.
The outside is nice and crispy while the inside stays soft and tender.
The ginger adds a little kick to the flavor while the green pepper adds some sweetness and depth.
The recipe itself is pretty simple; all you need to do is combine all of your ingredients in a mixing bowl then shape them into balls before baking them at 350 degrees until they’re golden brown on top.
You could also pan-fry them if you want more crunchy edges with your meatballs!
You could serve these Moroccan Sardine Balls with anything from couscous to rice pilaf—I think they would even go well with pasta or quinoa dishes.
Moroccan Dried Fava Bean Dip or Soup – Bessara (bissara)
Bessara is a great dish to serve with your meal because it’s so simple, but has a lot of flavor.
You can make it in a matter of minutes, and it’s super healthy!
It’s also very easy to make.
You just have to put all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Then you can serve it with some bread or rice on the side.
The main ingredients in Bessara are split fava beans (see also these canned fava bean recipes), harissa peppers, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic.
You can also add other ingredients like cumin seeds and coriander seeds if you want more flavor!
I personally like adding coriander seeds because they give the dip this really nice earthy taste that goes well with the harissas’ heat.
Moroccan Pureed Vegetable Soup
If you’re looking for a Moroccan side that is both delicious and easy to make, look no further than Moroccan pureed vegetable soup.
This soup is light and refreshing, but it also has a really great flavor—it’s not too spicy or overpowering.
It’s also very versatile. You can adjust the amount of spices you use depending on how much heat you want in your soup.
It’s also easy to modify by adding different ingredients like tomatoes, spinach, or chickpeas.
A lot of times people think that cooking is hard because they don’t know what goes into making something taste good.
But with this recipe, all you need are green beans, chicken, cauliflower, zucchini, and turnips!
That’s it!
You don’t even need any other ingredients if you don’t want them—this recipe is perfect as-is!
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to try something new this week (or any day really), I definitely recommend giving this dish a shot!
Ghoriba Bahla – Moroccan Shortbread Cookies with Almonds and Sesame
These cookies are made by combining sesame seeds, baking powder, vanilla sugar, blanched almonds, and vegetable oil.
They’re crispy on the outside and soft on the inside—making them ideal for dipping in coffee or tea.
The flavor of these cookies is sweet and nutty, but not overly so.
The texture is crunchy without being too hard or crispy—which means they’ll be perfect even if you have a sensitive palate!
And they’re so easy to make that even your kids can help out!
The best part? You can add whatever ingredients you want to these cookies—try adding some orange zest or dried fruit for a twist on the classic recipe!
Moroccan Stuffed Spleen – Tihane or Rate Farcie
If you’re looking for a new way to spice up your meal, try this Moroccan-inspired side dish.
It’s made with ground beef, preserved lemons, hard boiled eggs, and suet.
It’s perfect for when you want something adventurous on the table that can be made ahead of time.
You can serve this dish with almost anything—or even just by itself as an appetizer.
Moroccan Cabbage Tagine with Preserved Lemon and Olives
This dish is a great example of the kind of comfort food that I love to make for my friends and family on a cold winter day.
It’s easy to prepare, but it still feels like something special, because it’s so flavorful.
Plus, it’s super healthy!
The first thing that really stands out about this recipe is its taste—it has such an interesting mix of flavors.
There’s sweet from the preserved lemon and olives, spicy from the harissa (which is also a sauce), and salty from the cabbage itself.
The ginger adds an extra kick that really makes it stand out.
It also has a really nice texture because there are so many different ingredients in it—cabbage provides crunchy bits while the tomato adds some texture as well. And then there are those delicious olives!
They add some sweetness as well as saltiness to balance out all those other flavors.
Moroccan Seafood Bastilla
This side dish is a little different from most others, as it’s made with wood ear mushrooms, bean thread, soy sauce, tomato sauce, and seafood.
It has a very unique taste that many people will love.
The flavors are sweet and salty at the same time, and it’s even better when you add some chili peppers to it!
The texture of this dish is chewy, which makes it perfect for serving with any kind of meat or fish dish.
It also goes great by itself as a snack or appetizer!
You can make this dish as easy or difficult as you want: if you want an easier version of this recipe, just use regular egg noodles instead of bean thread noodles (this will give you more texture), but if you have time on your hands and love cooking new things then try using bean thread noodles for extra crunchiness!
There are lots of ingredients that can be added to Moroccan Seafood Bastilla!
You could add other types of seafood such as shrimp or lobster if desired; some people like adding tomatoes too.
Classic Moroccan Fish Tagine with Chermoula and Vegetables
This dish is so flavorful and textural, and it’s also really easy to make!
You just need preserved lemon, bell peppers, potatoes, green olives, and chermoula.
If you’re not familiar with chermoula (pronounced “cher-MO-lah”), it’s a spice mix made up of coriander seeds, cumin seeds and paprika powder along with some other spices like cinnamon sticks, black pepper and more.
Moroccan Tagine of Lamb or Beef with Cauliflower
This side dish is a great way to add some spice to your meal without overpowering it.
The preserved lemon, ginger and tomato give this dish a fresh taste that will have you coming back for more.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding some other ingredients like cumin and turmeric.
The best part about this recipe is how easy it is to make.
You can make it in under an hour and serve it with any meat dish you want—it will complement everything from beef stew to chicken curry!
And since there are only a few ingredients, you don’t have to worry about wasting food if you don’t have enough leftovers for another dish next time around.
Moroccan Stewed White Beans (loubia)
This is a simple recipe that anyone can make.
You just need cannellini beans (See Also: Canned Cannellini Beans Recipes), ginger, dried meat, olive oil, and garlic.
It takes about 20 minutes to cook on the stovetop and then you’re done!
The flavor is rich and satisfying—it reminds me of a great stew from my childhood.
And it’s not too tough on your stomach either—cannellini beans are high in fiber, so they’ll keep your belly full without weighing you down.
If you’re looking for something different than the same old mashed potatoes or rice pilaf, this is definitely one to try!
Moroccan Kefta Tagine with Tomato Sauce – Kefta Mkaouara (mkawra)
This is a recipe that’s perfect for anyone who wants to step outside their comfort zone and try something new.
It has all the flavors of Morocco you love, but it’s different from what you’re used to.
The best part about this recipe is that it’s not only delicious—it’s also really easy!
All you need are some ground beef, green bell pepper, cinnamon, olive oil, garlic and a few other ingredients to make a delicious meal.
This recipe is also one of those things that seems daunting at first but actually turns out to be easier than you thought.
If you’ve never made Moroccan food before—or even just tried Moroccan food—you probably don’t know what exactly goes into making it.
But once you start cooking this dish, all those questions will be answered!
Moroccan Meatball Tagine with Lemon and Saffron Butter Sauce
This is a really easy side dish to make, and it’s got such a great flavor.
I think that the combination of ginger, butter, lemon juice, and saffron is just perfect.
Plus, it’s so easy to prepare—you just mix up some ground beef with broth and spices (I like ginger) and then form it into meatballs.
The meatballs can be fried or baked in the oven!
Then all you have to do is make a sauce out of butter, lemon juice, salt/pepper/saffron/whatever spices you like best (I also use cumin sometimes), heat up your meatballs in the sauce for about 30 minutes on low heat until they’re cooked through… then serve them over rice or couscous!
It takes less than an hour from start to finish and everyone will love them!
Classic Moroccan Chicken with Preserved Lemon, Olives, and Daghmira (onion Sauce)
This is a great side dish to serve with your main course.
The meatballs are made with chicken livers, preserved lemon, green olives, and turmeric, which gives them a unique flavor that works perfectly with the lemon-saffron butter sauce.
They’re also quite easy to make—you just need to put everything in a food processor and pulse until it’s combined.
You can even use some of the same ingredients in other Moroccan dishes you might want to try!
Moroccan Steamed Lamb
This recipe calls for New potatoes, mint, carrots, cilantro, saffron threads.
You can buy these ingredients at your local grocery store.
The flavor of this dish is earthy and sweet.
It is also very aromatic because of the saffron threads and mint leaves used in the recipe.
The texture of this side dish is soft and smooth because it has been steamed instead of fried or baked like most other Moroccan dishes.
There are many other ingredients that you can add to this dish such as parsley or cumin seeds depending on what type of flavor profile you are looking for in your meal!
If you want to get creative with your presentation then try adding some dried fruits such as raisins or dried apricots!
Moroccan Steamed Chicken with Spinach and Chermoula Stuffing
This Moroccan side dish is a delicious mix of green beans, preserved lemon, new potatoes, zucchini, and harissa paste—and it pairs well with almost anything!
The flavor of this dish is really unique: it has a citrusy taste that’s both sweet and spicy.
The texture is soft and moist, but not too mushy or starchy.
It’s easy to make and takes only about 30 minutes from start to finish, so if you’re looking for an easy side that doesn’t take up much time or space in the oven (or on your stove!), this is a great option.
Moroccan Zucchini Salad with Chermoula
I think that this side is going to be perfect for when you’re on the go or are just looking for something quick and tasty.
It’s also great if you’re hosting guests or want to impress someone with your cooking skills.
The main ingredients are zucchini (you can use yellow squash or other vegetables), harissa, olive oil, tomatoes and garlic.
But there are also lots of ways you can customize this salad depending on what you have in your kitchen: maybe add some dried apricots or raisins, some fresh parsley leaves or mint leaves instead of cilantro…
You get the idea!
42 Best Moroccan Side Dishes
Ingredients
- Moroccan Spiced Roasted Cauliflower
- Moroccan-Spiced Roasted Carrots
- Moroccan Roasted Potatoes
- Moroccan Spiced Cauliflower & Almond Soup
- Zaalouk (Moroccan Eggplant Salad)
- Moroccan Carrot Salad
- Moroccan Carrot & Chickpea Salad
- Honey Glazed Moroccan Carrots
- Classic Moroccan Tomato Salad
- Moroccan Beet Salad
- Moroccan Lentil Salad
- Moroccan Olives with Harissa
- Spicy Orange Salad – Moroccan Style
- Moroccan Salad (Taktouka)
- Moroccan Couscous with Roasted Vegetables Chick Peas and Almonds
- Moroccan Peanut Couscous with Peas
- Moroccan-Style Vegetable Couscous
- Couscous with Pistachios and Apricots
- Maakouda Batata: Moroccan Potato Cakes
- Moroccan White Bread (Khobz)
- Moroccan Olive Flatbread
- Moroccan Couscous Cakes
- Moroccan Vegetable Salad
- Moroccan Roasted Potatoes
- Moroccan Harissa Chili Paste
- Moroccan Mallow Salad
- Moroccan Sardine Balls – Fish Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
- Moroccan Dried Fava Bean Dip or Soup – Bessara (bissara)
- Moroccan Pureed Vegetable Soup
- Ghoriba Bahla – Moroccan Shortbread Cookies with Almonds and Sesame
- Moroccan Stuffed Spleen – Tihane or Rate Farcie
- Moroccan Cabbage Tagine with Preserved Lemon and Olives
- Moroccan Seafood Bastilla
- Classic Moroccan Fish Tagine with Chermoula and Vegetables
- Moroccan Tagine of Lamb or Beef with Cauliflower
- Moroccan Stewed White Beans (loubia)
- Moroccan Kefta Tagine with Tomato Sauce – Kefta Mkaouara (mkawra)
- Moroccan Meatball Tagine with Lemon and Saffron Butter Sauce
- Classic Moroccan Chicken with Preserved Lemon, Olives, and Daghmira (onion Sauce)
- Moroccan Steamed Lamb
- Moroccan Steamed Chicken with Spinach and Chermoula Stuffing
- Moroccan Zucchini Salad with Chermoula
Instructions
- Pick your favorite side dish recipe from this list to serve with your Moroccan meal.
- Prepare the ingredients according to the recipe.
- Serve in no time!
Hi, I'm Benjamin. I love cooking, long walks, and my girlfriend! Here you’ll find simple and delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.