You asked and we delivered introducing Zoitsa Homely Produce’s – Moroccan Seasoning.
Ahhh Morocco a country that I am dying to visit, and one that has been on my bucket list for many, many years. I am fascinated with anything Moroccan if I can be honest. The mouth-watering cuisine, the diverse culture, the Moroccan antiques and antiquities, the history, the ancient medinas or cities, the colour, the vibrancy, the coastal beauties, the mountain ranges, all the alluring and unique experiences it has to offer. I imagine that walking through a Moroccan market or a shopping district your senses will be overwhelmed with the distinct spice aromas floating through the air. Instead, I have to sit here in Melbourne Australia and think about this magical and mystical country
Back to our Moroccan Seasoning. I have had so many family, friends and customers ask me for a Moroccan seasoning. I spent a lot of time looking at recipes and playing around with different versions in my kitchen.
Doing my research and reading up about Moroccan Cuisine and seasonings I realised that there is this preconceived notion that Moroccan food is spicy. I strongly disagree. Like strongly. Moroccan cuisine uses pepper in their foods to add a savoury element. I don’t feel that pepper is spicy I feel that pepper adds a touch of “heat” to a meal.
Moroccan cuisine has been strongly influenced by Andalusian Spain, Arabia, and France. It is a delicious combination of mouth-watering and lush flavours.
Moroccan foods use a variety of herbs and spices that enhance the flavours of your meals. Moroccan food is basically a flavourful blend of herbs and spices that mesh together and are really rather unique and complimentary.
I think it’s safe to say that the main Moroccan dish that everyone would be familiar with is couscous and meals that are made and served in tagines. The most commonly forms of protein that Moroccan cuisine uses are lamb and chicken. What I was surprised to learn was that they add a lot of boiled eggs, plums, and lemon in their dishes.
The most common and basic spices used in Moroccan cooking are cumin, black pepper, ginger, turmeric, saffron, sweet paprika, harissa, and cinnamon.
Whilst reaching Moroccan cuisine I came across this “in Morocco if you eat with two fingers you are more caring but if you eat with three fingers you are more generous” How awesome is that? I don’t know about you, but I can assure you I will be shoving all my fingers and thumbs into any Moroccan food! Can you imagine for a second sitting on a divan around a low table reaching forwards to grab your food off a beautiful large Moroccan platter and eating with your hands?
So, let’s get back on track with our Moroccan Seasoning. As most of you would know there are hundreds of versions of Moroccan Seasoning available so as I mentioned earlier, I really played around and experimented using different recipes and blends and, in the process, I fine-tuned a few different recipes and incorporated a little bit of this and a little bit of that and came up with Zoitsa Homely Produce’s version of Moroccan Seasoning.
Our Moroccan Seasoning consists of coconut sugar (I am obsessed with coconut sugar). Coconut sugar looks like brown sugar but is not as moist as brown sugar. Coconut sugar has a strong caramel like flavour and a tawny hue. Sweet Paprika with its naturally deep earthy tones that adds sharpness but no smokiness or heat. Cumin with its slightly sweet and warming flavours along with a nutty element, Cinnamon with its distinctly sweet yet smoky flavour. Cloves with its strong, pungent yet sweet flavour. Ginger with its warm sweet and spicy bite. Then touches of salt, pepper, and a dash of cayenne pepper.
Our Moroccan Seasoning is an all-rounder seasoning meaning it is adaptable and versatile and can be used in so many dishes and in so many ways. It is luscious on lamb cutlets, it is succulent in a lamb shank tagine, mouth-watering in a chicken tagine, turns boring roast vegetables into something else! Turns your everyday stews and soups into appetizing dishes, tasty and delicious on grains and pasta, delectable as a dry or wet rub on chicken, lamb and fish, add to desserts, yes desserts for a luscious, sweet treat and can be added to hot chocolate and spiced cocktails for a lush brew!
Enjoy the flavours of Morocco with our Moroccan Seasoning and turn your weeknight meal into something exotic and mouth-watering delicious!
Our Moroccan Seasoning is dedicated to my cousin Mira who asked for this! Thank you Mira for always just being you!
From our kitchen to yours!
(besseha) بالصحة Bon appetit
