Flavors of Morocco: Healthy Eating

carrot salad

It is the middle of January, the winter doldrums, I need some spice in my life. So, I headed down to Williams Sonoma's for a free Taste of Morocco cooking class. Morocco is a country in North Africa that is probably most famous for being the setting of the movie Casablanca in this country than for it's aromatic tagine cooking. 

William Sonoma, a quality cooking store, offers weekly free classes and more involved paid cooking classes on a regular bases. Check out their schedule. 

I got to sample and see prepared:

Spiced Couscous

 Moroccan-Spiced Lamb Burgers 

Moroccan-Style Carrot and Parsnip Salad.

The carrot parsnip salad was my favorite. I can't say that I ever ate raw parsnip before, but I liked them in this salad. I sometimes find carrot salads to be too sweet, but parsnips only have a slightly sweet taste, so they helped to bring the sweetness level down a notch. The exotic Moroccan spice mix Harissa which is a smoky blend of chili flavors also helped to make this a really balanced salad.  The flavors were a warming, yet fresh, burst of tastes that I really needed during this grim cold time of year. 

The cookbook that was recommended at the class is by Mourad Lahlou who grew up in Morocco and has created a beautifully illustrated collection of modernized versions of his childhood favorites. 

Weekly Menu Plan:

Sunday: Mushroom Risotto and Kale

Meatless Monday: Baked Spaghetti Squash & Zucchini

Tuesday: Easy Chicken Casserole with Broccoli

Wednesday: Trader Joe's Asian Vegetable Stir Fry with Egg & Brown Rice

Thursday: Spaghetti & Meatballs (from the freezer) with Salad

Friday: Chicken Normandy, with Mashed Potatoes & Spinach

Saturday: Pasta Fagioli (from the freezer)

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Note: I am not under any type of affiliate or advertising contract with William Sonoma at this time. My opinion of this store is unbiased by any type of business relationship.