How to: Homemade Moroccan Food Party

Moroccan food looks beautiful served in tagines, authentic ceramic and terra cotta dishes.

A Moroccan food-themed party can add a touch of exoticism to your next dinner gathering. Couscous, tagine and peasant pancakes are all traditional Moroccan foods that can be prepared easily. Mint tea, an authentic beverage to serve, is easy create. Transport your guests to warmer places with these homemade recipes. Moroccan food is healthful and can be modified to suit vegetarian tastes.



All of these recipes can be made in advance and heated up for the dinner party. (Recipes from Reference 1)

Things You'll Need

• For couscous salad:
• 1 large bowl
• 1 1/2 cup couscous
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 tsp. grated orange rind
• 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme (or 1 tsp. dried thyme)
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 cup chopped parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped spring onions
• 1 orange, peeled and sliced
• 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• For Moroccan peasant pancakes:
• 1 small bowl
• 4 bananas
• 1/2 cup apricot liqueur
• 1 cup pancake mix
• 1/4 inch cooking oil
• 1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
• 3 tbsp. melted butter
• 4 tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• For fish tagine:
• 1 frying pan
• 1 halibut
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 5 large onions, sliced thick
• 2 tbsp. tahini (sesame oil)
• Juice of 2 lemons
• Shallow baking pan
• 1/2 cup water
• For mint tea:
• 5 green tea teabags
• 8 cups boiling water
• 1 package mint leaves
• Large heat-safe glass mugs for guests

Instructions

1. Mix together the couscous, orange juice, orange zest, mustard and thyme in a large bowl for the Moroccan couscous salad. Add boiling water, stir, and set aside until the water has been absorbed. Fluff couscous with a fork and add the remaining ingredients

2. Cut bananas into 1/2-inch slices and place them in a small bowl to make the Moroccan peasant pancakes. Add the apricot liqueur and marinate for 1/2 hour.

   Make the pancake mix according to instructions and add the bananas.

   Heat the cooking oil in a frying pan and add the pancake mixture by the tablespoon.

   Mix together breadcrumbs, sugar and ginger and sprinkle the mixture over the pancakes.

3. Clean the halibut and remove scales, tail, head and bones for the fish tagine. Cut into chunks. Drain and fry the halibut pieces lightly in oil. Add the onions and cook until lightly browned. Arrange everything in a shallow baking pan with the onions on top of the fish. Add 1/2 cup water. Add tahini and lemon juice. Pour the mixture over the fish and stir lightly around it. Bake in oven at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.

4. Boil 8 cups of water in a large pot with five green tea teabags and let steep for 3 to 5 minutes.

   Arrange the mint leaves in the glass mugs and pour the green tea into glasses. Serve immediately.

Tips & Warnings

• For decoration, add draped fabric and throw pillows to create a sultan-style tent for you and your guests.

• Consider having a hookah and flavored tobacco on hand.

References

• Website: Moroccan Recipes
• Moroccan Fish Tagine