Mourad, "Modern Moroccan" cookbook - anyone?

Epicurean Exploits - Food and Recipes
1

I recently bought a copy of Mourad’s new cookbook. It is a really pretty book, and he leads you through all sorts of cultural description of Morocco, how things are done there and why. The recipes can get a little Keller-ish, some of the prep is quite fussy. But the things we have cooked have turned out well.

Mourad is the chef at Aziza in San Francisco. The food is centered on classic Moroccan cuisine but if he feels like using spices from Ethiopia or Turkey, he goes with it, so in a sense the food is a kind of “fusion” cooking.

What I have made so far – the beghrir which is a kind of bread or pancake, reminiscent of Ethiopian injeera bread, lots of holes on one side. With my wife, we’ve made gazelle horn cookies and mint-sprinkled watermelon. And a tasty dish of Swiss Chard with preserved lemons and ras al hanout spice.

I’m looking at his dish of lamb shanks and prunes with farro. So it is quite an exploration and I’m just wondering if I am alone here in getting into this or if others are too.

Do you cook Moroccan?? Have you bought a tagine?? Got some favorite dishes?? Ever heard of Mourad??

2

My wife and I ate at Aziza a couple years ago when it was a little more traditional. It was a wonderful meal in a cool space. We’ve been meaning to go back as I’ve heard that he has really stepped up his game and that it’s a great place.

3

I have two Moroccan cookbooks, the better of the two is Couscous, and other good food from Morocco, by Paula Wolfert. It was published for the first time in 1973, so it is pretty old school. My favorites are:
Eggplant Salad (Zeilook)
Carrot salad
Tagine of Swiss Chard (Marak Silk)
Pumpkin Couscous (although I can no longer eat couscous :frowning:
Tangier Couscous (Seksu Tanjaoui)
Several fish and chicken tagines (I have a smal tagine)
Several lamb recipes, including Lamb with almonds and hard boiled eggs (Tafaya)
And probably my favorite soup of all time0 Harira.

I’ll have to try Aziza. Sounds interesting.

4

Been to aziza several times. Dependable good food that’s a good choice to bring visitors who aren’t food-adventurous. They usually participate in dineabouttown so that’s a good time to ty them too.

5

Linda, I sent an email…

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6

Carollee has been getting e-mails from Paula Wolfert with several interesting recipes from her new Moroccan cookbook.

7

I never get emails from Paula Wolfert!

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