Are you a fan of Mediterranean cuisine? If you are, then you’re sure to love this list of 15 Moroccan soups that will give you the same flavors and essence from this part of the world.
Moroccan food features sweet, salty, fruity, nutty, and smoky flavors.
The cultural influences that can be detected in each bite include Arab, Andalusian, and Mediterranean cuisines.
This can also come with some European and Saharan touches.
Aside from cultural influences, the food is also shaped by the availability of ingredients in the region.
For example, vegetables such as tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes, and eggplants, are abundant and so are usual ingredients in most recipes.
You’ll also notice that squash, sweet potato, and carrots are also used to help add more substance to these dishes.
It is also common to observe fruits, whether dried or fresh, added in to give a more unique and refreshing taste.
Also worth noting is the influence religion plays in the creation of such dishes.
Since the populace is predominantly Muslim, some meats, like pork, are never seen in their cuisine.
You will also notice that beef is rarely on the menu.
This is due to the geographical makeup of Morocco, which doesn’t have many fields for grazing.
The meat often used in this cuisine are lamb, goat, and poultry.
Moreover, there is an abundance of seafood due to the country’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
Spices also play heavily in what they serve from breakfast to dinner.
The usual spices that are added to their food include ginger, cumin, turmeric, paprika, and cinnamon, among others.
All of these elements shine through in anything they cook and more so in how they prepare Moroccan soups.
If you want to try a recipe with some fruit in it, one of the recipes featured in this list include the Chickpea & Butternut Squash Soup, at #14.
Don’t miss it!
When you get tired of having the same old chicken soup, you can try making this one instead.
Unlike your regular, everyday chicken soup this one has more spices and herbs than what you’re probably used to.
The combination of chickpeas, carrots and shredded chicken breasts make this one a great tasting, filling, dish you can enjoy at any time of the day.
You can also partner it with some crusty bread or couscous.
Want your kitchen to smell heavenly?
Then better make this soup for dinner tonight!
This soup, while generally mild, has a bit of a bite due to the addition of some cayenne pepper.
Ground turkey is used for this, but if you’re not a fan, you can substitute it with ground beef or lamb instead.
This soup is considered one of the most iconic soups in the country and is even considered the national soup.
Usually served during Ramadan, the recipe uses either lamb or beef, and has legumes such as chickpeas and lentils in them.
So, if you want to eat and feel like a local, this is the soup to make!
Lots of fresh herbs are mixed in as well to give the soup added freshness.
Some people call it a stew, others call it a soup!
Nevertheless, this dish of white bean goodness is worth checking out!
The star of this dish is the white beans, which gives the soup its heartiness, but the spices are what give each bowl the aroma and taste that makes it difficult to forget.
Have you ever tried having soup in the morning?
It’s normal, especially in Morocco!
It uses the same ingredient used to make bread and couscous: Barley grits.
It’s often served at breakfast and is paired with dates.
You can say that this dish is kind of like oatmeal.
Barley grits are cooked with olive oil and cumin, until tender.
Milk is added in to make it creamy.
This one-pot wonder is both filling and flavorful!
This soup is a mix of shrimp, rice, vegetable broth and some spices.
It can be served as-is, since it already has rice in it, but if you want to follow local tradition, you can serve this soup with some bread too.
For a little kick, you can top this dish with a sprinkling of cayenne powder or a dollop of harissa paste.
Here’s an age old soup recipe that you can enjoy!
This is usually made with fava beans, but some people opt to use split green peas for it instead.
Both choices give this soup its verdant hue.
Whichever legume you choose, you’re sure to love the each rich spoonful!
Serve this at breakfast with a sprinkling of cumin on top and some olive oil.
This soup is so ubiquitous, it comes in many different versions.
Made with a mish mash of vegetables, this soup can be cooked with any type of protein.
There are recipes that use either chicken, beef, or lamb in making this dish.
This means that what makes this dish mesmerizing is not the meat, but the vegetables that go in it.
Give it a try and watch the magic unfold!
Meals from Morocco are rarely spicy.
There are a few exceptions though.
For those looking for a bit of zing, harissa paste is just what you need to bring in the heat.
Harissa paste is the region’s very own blend of chilies and other spices.
So, if you’re craving for soup with some bite, this is another spicy dish for you!
Now, here’s a soup that’s hearty, mild, and sweet.
This thick and creamy soup is great on a cold winter evening while you’re sitting on the couch.
If you want a light smoky flavor to your soup, try roasting the carrots before pureeing them.
You can also consider adding some almonds or pumpkin seeds on top before serving for crunch and added color.
This is a Mediterranean take on the popular potato leek soup!
While not really traditional, this soup has the same taste that this cuisine is known for.
This recipe is transformed from its traditionally English guise into something else!
Adding some toasted chickpeas on top gives this soup some texture and crunch.
12. Semolina Soup
Is it porridge or soup?
It can be both depending on what time of the day you decide to enjoy this dish!
This soup/porridge is served with some olive oil on top.
But if you want to make it into an even more satiating meal, a side dish of roasted vegetables and even some olives should do the trick.
For this soup, you can choose to use dried or canned chickpeas.
Also called garbanzo beans, this soup brings this legume front and center, with local spices and vegetables complementing it.
As with most Moroccan soups, this dish is best served with some bread, or if you want, some couscous or rice.
Slightly sweet, somewhat nutty, and very filling are words you can use to describe this!
This recipe combines the chickpeas with a vegetable that has a similar flavor profile as sweet potatoes.
Ginger, cumin, and paprika, plus some fruity notes added in via the orange juice are what you can get with this soup.
To break away from all the mushiness, top with some toasted crunchy pumpkin seeds before serving.
Yellow is not the color of cauliflower, but this soup has an amber tinge that’s very eye-catching.
With its bright yellow color, it brings sunshine to your day with every scoop.
Roasting the cauliflower before adding it in removes any soapy taste that this vegetable usually has, and it also imparts some smokiness too.
To give each bowl some texture, consider adding roasted cauliflower florets, some chopped nuts, and fresh herbs.
The bottom line
This list of 15 Moroccan soups proves that there are more meals to try than the popular couscous and tagine offerings.
These soups will transport you to Marrakech and back with each spoonful!
There are a lot of varieties you can find in this short list.
Some of these soups are super thick while others are slightly watery.
There are also some soups that are almost stew-like in nature because of all the vegetables and meat in them.
The use of the usual spices in these dishes help tie all of them together in one savory profile that’s truly the signature of recipes from the region.
One thing you will find that’s more commonplace in all these soups, however, is its signature taste.
No matter how thick, meaty, or creamy these soups may be, you get the Moroccan flavor in each one.
Try making one of these soups today!
15 BEST Moroccan Soups
Are you a fan of Mediterranean cuisine? Come love on this list of 15 delicious Moroccan soups, from traditional to contemporary cuisine!
Ingredients
- Moroccan Chicken Soup
- Spiced Turkey Soup
- Harira (Moroccan Chickpea & Lentil Soup)
- Loubia (Moroccan White Beans Stew)
- Hssoua Belboula
- Chorba D’Crevette (Moroccan Shrimp Soup)
- Bissara (Moroccan Fava Bean Soup)
- Chorba (Moroccan Vegetable Soup)
- Spicy Moroccan Sweet Potato Soup
- Moroccan Spiced Carrot Soup
- Moroccan Spiced Potato Leek Soup
- Semolina Soup
- Moroccan Chickpea Soup
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Moroccan-Spiced Roasted Cauliflower Soup
Instructions
- Scroll for your favorite recipe from our list of Moroccan Soups.
- Pick out the ingredients needed for the dish.
- Cook then enjoy immediately!