3 Health-Conscious & Mouthwatering Meals from Marrakech

You know by now how savoury and exquisite the food in Marrakech can be. With a table full of tasty entrees ranging from hearty and crunchy to soft and sweet, there’s no shortage of dishes to satisfy your taste buds.

But for those of you who are health-conscious, you may wonder what Marrakech dishes will best complement your health, fitness, and wellness needs.

After all, a trip to Marrakech and indulging in the local dishes does not mean you have to sacrifice your waistline or gain weight in the process. Let us take a look at a few dishes that are popular in Marrakech, along with their health benefits.

Couscous

Couscous is a staple dish in Marrakech and throughout Morocco. Both locals and travelers enjoy it as it has now become a popular meal choice worldwide.

Couscous is rich in selenium. In fact, just one cup of couscous has more than 60% of this essential mineral. Selenium decreases inflammation, maintains proper thyroid function, and lowers bad cholesterol. Even more impressive is selenium’s seeming ability to lower the risk of certain cancers.

Couscous is also surprisingly rich in protein, making it a great option for vegetarians and vegans who rely on plant-based sources of protein. Couscous contains as much as six grams of protein per cup.

With that said, those who are on a gluten-free diet will want to steer clear of couscous since it is made with wheat or semolina flour. Also, you might want to consume lower amounts of couscous if you have blood sugar issues or diabetes as it is high in carbohydrates (36 grams per cup).

Lamb Tagine

For those who are hitting the weights and are looking to bulk up or get lean, a protein-rich meal is your best friend. Lamb tagine is Marrakech’s culinary offering for your goal and a tasty one at that. Along with its textures and flavours, a lamb tagine dish can pack as much as 51 grams of protein. It is also rich in energizing vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, zinc, iron, and phosphorus.

Tagine is also seasoned with many healthy spices including garlic, saffron, coriander, and ginger – all of which have their own unique health benefits. Overall, lamb tagine is a great meal not only for fitness reasons, but also in general since its ingredients contain cancer-fighting and immune boosting compounds.

For those who are trying to lower their fat intake, enjoy your lamb tagine in small portions. It does have a somewhat high-fat content at 37 grams, which is 54% of the daily recommended intake for the average adult.

Moroccan Salads

There are several options when it comes to Moroccan salads, many of which are an ideal meal for the health conscious. Take, for example, Moroccan zucchini salad. A typical zucchini salad contains a nutritional powerhouse mix of garlic, cumin, parsley, and paprika or cayenne pepper.

The zucchini itself is loaded with nutrition. It is rich in vitamins B6, C, K, riboflavin, folate, manganese, and potassium. With such a nutritional profile, zucchinis can improve your digestion, lower your blood sugar and maintain good heart and circulatory health. Zucchinis can also boost your energy, aid in weight loss, and even improve your eye health!

Another popular salad in Marrakech is Moroccan sweet tomato salad, which is sprinkled with cinnamon to give the salad its sweet flavour. Cinnamon is known to reduce the risk of heart disease, control blood sugar levels, fight neurodegenerative disease (ie. Alzheimer’s disease) and boost the immune system (fights bacteria and fungi).

Tomatoes themselves are rich in antioxidants, vitamins B9 (folate), C, K1, potassium, and fibre. Therefore, tomatoes are beneficial for the heart and skin, as well as containing cancer-fighting properties. With that said, you will want to avoid this dish if you have an allergy to tomatoes.

Marrakech Dishes Bring Good Taste & Health With Every Bite

There’s a popular belief that if something tastes good, it’s probably bad for your body. That may be true for certain foods, but here in Marrakech, you will find that many of the city’s popular meals blend good taste with nutritious ingredients.

You will not feel deprived here, whether it’s in terms of experiencing a burst of flavour or feeding your body with good fuel. You really can have it all!

Are you making a trip to Morocco? Make sure to visit our Le Trou Au Mur restaurant to experience our delicious entrees.