Inspired by unforgettable grilled kabobs I had at a restaurant in Cleveland, I set out to recreate those bold, vibrant flavors at home. Bursting with rich Moroccan spices, this recipe brings the taste of North Africa straight to your kitchen—easy, flavorful, and perfect for your next grilling night.
Moroccan food got its flavors from the spice trade
This diversity comes as no surprise given Morocco's spice trade. Plus the key geographical location on the Mediterranean coast. Among its culinary and cultural influences we have Berber, Mediterranean, Moorish, and Arabic. No matter the dish, their food has a myriad of flavors. Morocco was part of the spice trade. The food reflects that. The most popular spices are: cinnamon, cumin, saffron, ginger, turmeric, sweet paprika, hot peppers, anise seed, and white and black pepper. These spices are still purchased in the market to ensure maximum freshness.
Kabobs are an ancient food.
Today's Moroccan inspired beef kabobs (or beef kebabs) are made with my very own authentic Moroccan spice blend: ras el hanout. As for the origins of kabobs, we can really go back to our ancestors. They roasted meat on a spit. In the epic poem The Iliad, Homer references roasting meat on a spit. The Greek island of Santorini produced stone supports for skewers, dating from the 17th century B.C. Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan traveler, noticed kabobs were eaten during the Delhi sultanate (1206-1526). Even commoners were eating kabobs with naan.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word kabob is derived from Urdu (the language of Pakistan), Turkish, and Persian. Its first known use dates to 1673 to describe a grilled meat dish on a skewer. Kabobs also included seafood, or ground meat shaped into an oval or even a patty. These skewers sometimes contained fruit or vegetables.
Enjoy beef kabobs with your friends and family
Enjoy Moroccan food communally. People eat out of the same cooking pot/platter. The diverse flavors of Moroccan food make it an adventure for the palate. These Moroccan-inspired beef kebabs are perfect for dinner on a summer night. Take them to a picnic, and they will be a hit.
Here are the steps to make great Moroccan kabobs:
- Gather all your ingredients and have them chopped, sliced, cut up, and ready to go.
- In a bowl, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, Moroccan spice blend
, cracked pepper, and cilantro. Pour this mixture over the beef. - Mix with the beef cubes until well combined. Refrigerate for 2 hours to marinate.
- Slide the onions, tomatoes ( cut in half), mushrooms, and beef onto the skewers. I like to use kabob style skewers. They are flat and wide, so the ingredients won't slide around. Pro tip: Microwave the mushrooms for about a minute on high to make them slightly softer. This will help them from cracking and splitting when you slide them on the skewers. Grill 6-7 minutes on each side until a nice char in on the edges. Enjoy!
If you would like to try other Moroccan dishes, here are a few options:
Moroccan saffron chicken: the delicate taste of saffron shines through in this recipe.
For an easy to make bread recipe, try Moroccan country bread.
A hearty soup of chickpeas and lentils: Harira.
The classical Moroccan lamb dish: tagine.
📖 Recipe
Moroccan Inspired Beef Kabobs
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs sirloin cubed into 1 ½ inch chunks
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon authentic Moroccan spice blend ras el hanout
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cracked pepper
- 2 tablespoon cilantro chopped
- 12 mushrooms
- 2 sweet onion cut into chunks
- 4 tomatoes small, cut into halves
- 1 5.8 oz couscous box
- 2 Tbp parsley chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix together olive oil, lemon juice, Moroccan spice blend, cracked pepper, salt and cilantro.
- Add the cubed beef to the bowl and mix thoroughly then refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Assemble kabobs by alternating beef, mushrooms, onion and tomatoes.
Tip: If you microwave the mushrooms for about 1 minute they will get slightly soft and less likely to crack when you slide them on the skewer. - Heat the grill to medium high.
- Cook the kabobs about 6-7 minutes on each side. The edges should have a nice char.
- Prepare couscous according to package instructions.
- Garnish couscous with parsley.
Danielle says
I think you shared your fascination with this dish with me - I am so keen to make it at home now. I really like recipes that use delicious seasonings, so these kebabs look like something I would really enjoy having on my table!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy says
I am so happy grilling season is finally here. These kebabs look delicious. Love the spice blend too. These would be a hit at BBQ parties this summer.
Jackie says
I can't wait to give these a try! I love this time of year for recipes like this! So glad it's finally summer time.
Denise says
This looks delicious. That spice blend sounds amazing! I love grilling season, I'm always trying new recipes!
Eva says
Loved reading the history of kebab. What always fascinates me is the fact that so many foods are common in cultures that are so far away in space from one another. Yet similar eating and cooking habits have been developed all over. Thank you for sharing this in your post.
Jennifer T Tammy says
I am obsessed with all things Moroccan when it comes to food! My friend got me hooked on Za'tar seasoning and Berber spices, they have become a kitchen staple for me!
Elena says
I love ras el hanout! What a great way to use it! This recipe is perfect for the grilling season!
Lorie says
When summer hits we have kabobs at least once a week. This one is gonna be a fresh new option to add in our rotation!
Analida says
My son built a kebab pit from some spare bricks we had lying around so we can go totally authentic old school with our kebab grilling! Break out the charcoal! LOL!
Charity says
I recently bought a jar of ras el hanout because I was super curious what it would taste like. Now I know what to make with it!
Amanda says
Oh, I'm a huge fan of Moroccan food, so these kabobs sound perfect for me! Plus, I can't get enough grilling during the summer months. Thanks for sharing a great recipe!
Daniela says
These beef kebabs sounds delish and I love cooking with tons of spices! Def inspired to give these a shot :)!
Analida says
A spicy kebab goes so well with some jasmine rice and hummus!
Carol Borchardt says
I'm all about Moroccan food and now that it's grilling season, these are perfect! Definitely going to give these a go!
Jo says
Love myself a big Moroccan meal like this in any given summer days. I looks delicious and so filling too. All those spices and flavors in the kebabs are spot on.