Traditional Moroccan meal with a local family

Meet Maha

Maha learned to cook a very wide variety of traditional dishes from different regions of Morocco, from her family. As a Moroccan woman, she was introduced to the kitchen and cooking since a young age. Her aunt was a caterer, who has been very inspirational to Maha in developing her passion for cooking. Maha fondly remembers being by her aunt’s side in the kitchen, learning to cook Moroccan and international dishes and tasting her delicious food, when she was a little girl. And since then, she has continued to develop her passion and skill, and her children are more than willing to be tasters for all her culinary creations. Apart from cooking, Maha loves hosting people – she is excited to have travelers over to share with them her traditional dishes, introduce them to her culture and learn about theirs too!

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal (1 - 20 guests) Maha lives in a simple apartment in Hay Riad with her husband, children - Sara, Amine and Malak, and their cute furry cat, Felix. She will introduce you to traditional Moroccan dishes – these are simple, everyday meals that you will find at every Moroccan family's dinner table. Also if you have a specific request for a dish you have tried or seen somewhere and want to taste, please let Maha know in advance and she is happy to customize the menu for you! A few dishes you will be sharing with Maha and her family at the table are zaalouk (a Moroccan salad of cooked eggplants and tomatoes) or Taktouka (a traditional Moroccan savory dish and spread made from tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic, toasted paprika and olive oil), tagine (stew made with meats or fish or vegetables that is braised in a gently spiced sauce and cooked in an earthen pot) and fruit salad (using seasonal fruits).

Cooking experience (1 - 20 guests) In your Rabat cooking class, you will join Maha in her home kitchen and learn to cook two dishes from scratch. In your 2-hour, hands-on, traditional cooking class, you will learn to make a salad or appetizer and a main dish. While you cook together Maha will share stories about how she learned to cook these dishes and share with you tips and tricks she learned over the years. These dishes that you will cook are simple, everyday meals, using seasonal ingredients that you can easily recreate in your own kitchen. After cooking, sit down at the table to share the meal you helped prepare.

Market visit (1 - 20 guests) Meet Maha at her home and then you will drive together to Souk Al Akkari or Souk El Manal. Both these markets have a variety of vegetables, fruits, all kinds of meats, spices, olives – it is usually where all the locals shop for fresh, seasonal produce. Walk around the market with Maha to witness the hustle and bustle and visit her favorite shops to buy a few ingredients, that you will later be using in your cooking class. After you finish your market tour, drive back to Maha’s home for your cooking and meal experience.