01 Sep2010
All the posts on our recent trip to Morocco resulted in a craving for Moroccan food… Discovering a tube of instant harissa paste at the grocery a few days ago meant we had a “jumping off” point for a dinner with friends. We started with a citrus salad with olives, nuts and an argan oil dressing (recipe up soon). then we had a large platter of couscous, surrounded by a wonderful vegetable tagine that Mrs. MM made, aren’t the colors just incredible?
We also made a chicken with apricots and tomato tagine that turned out very, very nicely (recipe up soon as well)…
…and some tiny, rare lamb chops as the other choice of protein. Overall a nice meal that was reminiscent of Morocco, but perhaps not as heavily spiced as we would have experienced it on our recent trip… :)
COMMENTS:
Jen Laceda says:
I love couscous. I can eat them all day long! This is making me yearn for Marrakech…
Sep 1, 2010 | 6:51 am
Rosedmd says:
I love couscous with pine nuts and cranberries!!! Yummy ! Doesn’t the chicken look pale? Waiting for you recipes… Thanks
Sep 1, 2010 | 7:29 am
Pia says:
Wow! kalami ana MM! Yum =)
Sep 1, 2010 | 8:28 am
socky says:
Looking forward to the chicken recipe, MM. Done some Moroccan dishes and would love to expand my repertoire. Hello to Mrs. MM and the Teenager.
Sep 1, 2010 | 9:35 am
Artisan Chocolatier says:
Just had lunch, but I’m getting hungry again!!!!
Sep 1, 2010 | 1:58 pm
tamale8888 says:
Goodness! How do you keep the pounds off, MM?!
Sep 1, 2010 | 2:56 pm
Junb says:
I’m hungry!!! How bout the couscous recipe? please share that too. Thanks
Sep 1, 2010 | 6:32 pm
KUMAGCOW says:
Now where could we get descent lamb meat in the metro?!
Sep 1, 2010 | 10:50 pm
ange says:
Marketman–where did you find the harissa paste?! :D
Sep 1, 2010 | 10:53 pm
Sarah says:
The colors are so vibrant! These look really appetizing.
Sep 2, 2010 | 12:08 am
chloe says:
Very appetizing, MM!
Love that photo of the succulent lamb chops, now am craving for it!
Sep 2, 2010 | 12:17 am
clarissa says:
yummy salad!
Sep 2, 2010 | 5:16 pm
BENJAMIN says:
So where’s the recipe???????
Sep 17, 2010 | 2:27 am
malena says:
I’m sorry Marketman but Harissa is actually Tunisian. I should know, I’m married to a Tunsie. :) Moroccans actually have a white couscous while Tunisians have red couscous precisely because of the Harissa. They eat Harissa with everything here, even with bread. Goodness.
But, lovely spread. :) love the food, the photos.
Ever since I googled alimango and came upon your site so many moons ago. :)
God Bless MM!
Oct 27, 2010 | 5:22 am
Marketman says:
malena, yes, many thanks for that clarification. I have never been to Tunisia. And now I know better re: the origins of the chili paste harissa. But I have always associated harissa with North African food, so it is still an appropriate “jumping off” point for a Moroccan meal. On our recent trip to Morocco, harissa was quite prevalent in restaurant food… And in Moroccan cookbooks, harissa is also frequently mentioned…A quick check on a spice reference book I have desk side says, and I quote: “This chili based condiment with a definite kick is widely used in Moroccan, Tunisian and Algerian cooking.” – The New Guide to Spices by Sallie Morris.
Oct 27, 2010 | 5:44 am
Mar says:
Hi! Where did you buy the harissa paste? Thanks in advance!
Jan 6, 2011 | 1:11 pm
Marketman says:
Mar, got the harissa at Rustan’s rockwell, but supplies there are erratic. You may also want to try Santis delicatessen’s which has it on occasion…
Jan 6, 2011 | 1:19 pm