Plant-Based in Morocco
Traveling as a plant-centered eater can sometimes be quite challenging, with real effort needed to seek out vegan or even vegetarian dining options. Not so in Morocco. The food here is beautiful and there are abundant plant-centered offerings on nearly every menu. Many Moroccan dishes are naturally plant-forward and are packed with gorgeous produce, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. As a plant-based eater, you can eat very well in Morocco with ease.
Your plant-based dining experience typically begins as soon as you enter your hotel or riad, where you are almost always greeted with refreshing mint tea and an assortment fruits, nuts, and traditional treats.
Mornings typically start with strong coffee or tea and the best orange juice and fruit you’ve ever had. Moroccan juices are renowned and exceptional.
Moroccan food is also legendary for its fabulous spices, aromatic herbs, preserved lemon, and liberal use of fresh veggies.
A wide array of amazing olives are available on nearly every menu.
Other plant-based staples like lentils, quinoa, and chickpeas are integral to the cuisine and are featured in many dishes.
Delicious vegetable tajines are common and include a medley of veggies over couscous, frequently sprinkled with garbanzos and pistachios or served with caramelized onions.
There are also fabulous flaky pastries stuffed with vegetables, potatoes, or lentils.
Salads are abundant, varied, and delicious. When cheese is present, it is often added as salad topping rather than incorporated, so it can be omitted easily for the vegan traveller.
Divine spreads like hummus and eggplant zaalouk are common accompaniments, and tiny vegetarian phyllo triangles and croquettes appear on many menus.
We particularly love the Moroccan salad assortments. When ordering this dish, you typically receive a small portion of multiple salads including items like spiced carrots, charred eggplant, perfectly ripened tomatoes with cucumber, shaved fennel, and other beautifully prepared vegetable, fruit, and legume combinations. It is our favorite way to sample a variety of amazing veggie-filled dishes. These salad assortments are the foods we miss most when returning home.
Our Favorite Restaurants in Marrakech
Here are some of our favorite restaurants in the Medina. Most are not strictly vegetarian or vegan, but all have excellent plant-based dining options.
La Famille (vegetarian and scrumptious)
L’Mida
Le Jardin
La Maison Arab
La Table de la Kasbah
And at the end of the day, make sure to leave room for a fabulous Moroccan sweet or two. Date paste, nuts, seeds, and wonderful spices like cinnamon, saffron, and ground anise are common players in these amazing confections.
As a plant-centered eater, you can happily spend your days savoring the culinary delights of Morocco. Eating here is easy and delicious. You will love it!
Journey far. Be well.
Danielle and Tom