As the case with most Mediterranean countries, salads are a huge part of Morocco’s cuisine. They’re not merely relegated to the sidelines, on the countrary, they are there to enrich every meal and make it better. You can find different kinds of Moroccan salads, including sweet, spicy, tangy, and briny, and in this article we’ll introduce you to some of the most popular local salads that capture the spirit of Moroccan gastronomy.
Common Ingredients In Moroccan Salads
Moroccan salads feature vegetables that are native to the region, including crunchy cucumbers, ripe tomatoes, pomegranate seeds, lettuce, onions, peppers, olives, etc. Then there are the spices- cumin paprika, and coriander are the main ones but you can also spot others too. As far as dressings go, olive oil reigns supreme but there are a few other ones too, like argan oil which is also common, fresh lemon juice, and orange blossom water. And last but not least, it’s also not uncommon to see boiled eggs or cheese in some salads, as we’ll see in this article.
Most Popular Moroccan Salads
Now that we covered some basics, let’s get to the most important part of this article- the most popular and delicious Moroccan salads.
Taktouka
Taktouka is technically a salad but also a snack, a dip, and a spread, all-in-one. It’s made of charred green bell peppers and tomatoes which are roasted and give the salad a smoky flavor. Once perfectly roasted, they’re finely chopped and combined with garlic, cumin, and paprika, resulting in a slightly spicy, tangy snack that’s one of Morocco’s favorites. It’s also very versatile because in addition to serving the role of a salad, it can also be used as the role of a dip, often sidling up next to some crusty Moroccan bread.
Zaalouk
Similarly to taktouka, zaalouk is another delicious cooked salad in which the main ingredients are eggplants, tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil. Zaalouk is usually served as a side dish or as a dip alongside some crusty breads. In Arabic, the word zaalouk means puree or something soft which is a rather accurate description of the texture of this dish. The most popular version of zaalouk is prepared with eggplant as the main ingredient but there are a few different versions that use pepper, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, or even pumpkin as a substitute.
Moroccan Carrot And Orange Salad
I believe the name completely describes what this salad is and even though it doesn’t sound like the best combination, it’s the perfect refreshing snack to fill your batteries and keep you hydrated during a hot day in Morocco. The fresh carrots are usually grated or thinly sliced and the oranges are cut into tiny pieces. The combination is drizzled with olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and a touch of garlic, ground cumin, and a pinch of chilli, making it refreshing and crunchy at the same time.
Sometimes, olives or dates, and freshly chopped parsley or mint can be added to the mix to make the salad feel even more fresh.
Moroccan Beet Salad
This salad starts with beet, boiled or roasted until tender and almost sweet. It can be diced or sliced, and then tossed with a mix of ingredients that complement its inherent sweetness, including a dash of fresh lemon juice, a sprinkle of ground cumin, and freshly chopped parsley or cilantro. Before serving, it’s drizzled with olive oil and sometimes topped with a touch of minced garlic or spicy harissa, giving it a kick that makes it the perfect choice top open up your appetite.
Moroccan Cucumber And Mint Salad
This salad is simplicity at its finest; all you need are some freshly sliced or diced cucumbers and freshly torn mint leaves, topped with a squeeze of zesty lemon juice, a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt and/or ground cumin. This Moroccan salad completely encapsulates the essence of Moroccan cuisine- to tickle your taste buds and open up your appetite by using simple, minimalist ingredients.
Moroccan Potato Salad
The Moroccan Potato Salad is another cooked salad that’s an exquisite appetizer consisting of boiled potatoes, mixed with long slices of red onions, scallion, finely chopped garlic, and fresh parsley or mint, topped with olive oil, generous squeezes of lemon juice (or white vinegar), cumin, paprika, and black pepper.
Moroccan Chickpea Salad
This list of Moroccan salads just can’t be complete without the Moroccan Chickpea Salad. As its name suggests, the main ingredient of this dish are chickpeas and yes, they are cooked (as so many Moroccan salads on this list). This popular Moroccan appetizer, in addition to boiled chickpeas also uses boiled carrots (or sometimes tomatoes), fresh mint or coriander, a little bit of garlic, and the usual suspects when it comes to toppings- olive oil, ground cumin, and smoked paprika.
Enjoying this post? Then you may also enjoy our harira recipe.
Moroccan Black Olive & Orange Salad
Before you start judging, I get you, I felt the same way when I first heard of this salad. Black olives and orange just doesn’t seem like a good combo but that is only until you actually try it. The refreshing touch of the olives combined with the right quantity of slightly bitter black olives actually complement each other perfectly. The oranges are cut into little pieces while the olives are usually mashed and used as a topping/dip in this culinary tango of sweet, bitter, and savory.
Moroccan Sweet Tomato Salad
This salad is a perfect example of sweet and savory. Tomatoes are the main ingredient, chopped in tiny pieces but instead of salt, they’re topped with sugar, or even honey and cinnamon and the always present freshly squeezed lime juice (because after all, this is still supposed to be a salad, not a desser). Fresh mint/cilantro, lettuce, boiled beetroots, and red onions are the other ingredients used, and it’s not uncommon to throw a little bit of crumbled white cheese to make the dish more savory, because, why not?
Harissa Shrimp Salad
Now, this one even has me scratching my head because neither shrimps nor harrier are salad ingredients but if Moroccans like to classify this as a salad who am I to disagree? The shrimps are first marinated and then grilled and combined with the harissa (a tomato paste/dip/spread). When done, the shrimps should have a nice charred exterior and a succulent, juicy middle. Then the shrimps are tossed in a salad of crisp greens like arugula, baby spinach, frisée, cherry tomatoes, red onions, and pomegranate seeds.
Moroccan Eggplant Salad With Harissa And Carrot
As its name suggests, this salad consists of roasted eggplant (until they get a smoky flavor), fresh carrot, and that versatile paste/delicious/spread/dip, harissa. You can also add some fresh mint leaves, coliander, or even kale, and topping the salad with crumbled white cheese is also not uncommon. The eggplants are soft and with a smoky flavor while the carrot and other fresh veggies are crunchy- the perfect contrasting combo. You can top the salad with olive oil, lemon juice, or even drizzle a little bit of honey.
Pairing Moroccan Salads with Other Dishes
In Moroccan cuisine, salads are usually served either as an appetizer, as a side dish, or as a light snack in between meals and here are some of the best ways you can combine them.
- Tagines & Taktouka: the heartiness and smoky flavor of taktouka and the fattiness of the rich lamb tagline are a match made in haven and a combo you just have to try.
- Couscous & Zaalouk: Zaalouk, on the other hand, with its fluffy texture and smoky flavor goes perfectly with some bland couscous (it enhances its flavor even more).
- Grilled Sardines & Carrot-Orange Salad: The carrot orange salad goes surprisingly well with the smoky, earthy flavor of grilled sardines.
- Sweet Tomato Salad & Mint Tea: The sweet tomato salad with its moderate sweetness is perfect for accompanying it with some classic Moroccan mint tea.
- Harissa Shrimp Salad & Lemon Verbena Infusion: After a bite of the fiery Harissa Shrimp Salad, what better way to cool the palate than with a soothing lemon verbena drink?
- Black Olive & Orange Salad & Moroccan Rose Wine: The briny punch of olives contrasting with sweet oranges pairs almost perfectly with the floral notes of a Moroccan rosé.
How did you like our list of the best Moroccan salads? Did you ever try any of them? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below.
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