We could all use a virtual trip right now and for me, my mind is heading to Morocco. For me, it’s a truly sensuous place. And by that, I mean in the true sense of the word--Morocco grabs at all of my senses. So, do you want to come along?
I love hearing the slap, slap, slap of the warka maker as he prepares paper-thin dough to wrap around a delicious, savory pie filling. And in the next moment, I’m in wandering through the souks, and trying to decide which of the vibrant, gloriously decorated colorful slippers to buy as souvenirs for friends. And two seconds later, I’m marveling at the Marjorelle blue, yellow ocher, rusty orange and azure blue mosaic tiles in Bahia Palace, with attention to detail so precise, it nearly brings me to tears.
And then there are the sights, the sizzling sounds, and the tastes of the food to imagine! I have dreams of the heady, sensuous food that’s cooked here in my beloved Morocco. First it’s tasting couscous made with 7 vegetables, saffron and chickpeas topped caramelized onions and raisins and eating it with the first three fingers of your right hand. Then I’m biting into a crunchy bisteeya-- a warka-wrapped pie filled with chicken, or the more traditional squab, and topped with a dusting of cinnamon and sugar. And finally, my favorite and one of Morocco’s iconic dishes, a tagine with chicken stewed, dried apricots, almonds, mountain honey and all kinds of spices. I’m getting high on the aromas wafting about and now I’m dreaming of a tagine with fish stewed with fennel and peas and the classic,-- lamb with spring artichokes, preserved lemons and cured black olives.
OK, so, now that your mind is there, too, let’ create a dish that will really transport you…a Tagine! And the best part,- you probably have everything right there in your refrigerator to make a tagine right now! Seriously- if you have almost any kind of vegetables, boned and skinned chicken thighs, some preserved lemons in a jar and spices in the cabinet, you are good to go!
Do you have your bags packed? Now close your eyes for a moment and say out loud, “Take me to Magical Morocco” three times.
Join me, @ChefJoanneWeir:
Grab your friends, family, and favorite beverage and get ready for some more Magical Morocco as I teach you to make my tagine and a Moroccan-inspired cocktail. Get ready to fall in love with Morocco, right at home!
See you “there”!
P.S. Here are the recipes I mentioned…let me know how you like them!
And…why not get inspired and watch the “Tagine” episode of Plates & Places..on me!!
Click on this link: https://vimeo.com/309349774
Use Promo Code: PlatesPlaces2020
|
|
