• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Analida's Ethnic Spoon

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Shop
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home >> Morocco

    Moroccan Inspired Beef Kabobs

    Modified: Jul 27, 2022 · Published: May 15, 2019 by Analida · • Word count:805 words. • About 5 minutes to read this article. • This post may contain affiliate links ·

    319 shares
    • 178
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A warm summer day with beef kabobs on the grill... 

    I had grilled kabobs at a restaurant in Cleveland, OH. After that, I was inspired! The seasonings were so delicious. I had to come up with my own Moroccan recipe to make at home. The food is so full of flavor, and so diverse.
    Beef kebab on a silver platter with couscous.

    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.

    Beef kebabs on Arabic style skewers grilled with tomato, onions on a bed of couscous.

    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 make Moroccan food an adventure for the palate.  These Moroccan inspired beef kebabs are perfect for dinner on a summer night. Take them to a picnic, they will be a hit.

    Here are the steps to make great Moroccan kabobs:

    A collage of photos showing steps to make Moroccan beef kebabs with onion, tomato and mushrooms.

    1. Gather all your ingredients and have them chopped, sliced, cut up and ready to go.
    2. In a bowl mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, Moroccan spice blend, cracked pepper and cilantro. Pour this mixture over the beef.
    3. Mix with the beef cubes until well combined. Refrigerate for 2 hours to marinate.
    4. Slide the onions, tomatoes ( cut in halves), 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. 

    Looking for more recipes?  
    Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new recipes in your inbox each week!  You can also find me sharing more inspiration in Pinterest and Facebook.

    Moroccan style grilled beef kebab with tomato, onion and couscous.

    Moroccan Inspired Beef Kabobs

    Kabobs always say summer to me. This recipe for Moroccan inspired kabobs are delicious and easy to make. I used my very own blend of authentic Moroccan spice blend: ras el hanout. Other goodies on the skewer are sweet onion, mushrooms and  tomato. 
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main dish
    Cuisine: Moroccan
    Keyword: kabobs, Moroccan, North African, picnic food, red onion
    Prep Time: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 45 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 259kcal
    Author: Analida Braeger

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ lbs sirloin cubed into 1 ½ inch chunks
    • 2 Tbsp Olive oil
    • 2 Tbsp lemon juice
    • 1 Tbsp authentic Moroccan spice blend ras el hanout
    • 1 tsp salt
    • ¼ tsp cracked pepper
    • 2 Tbsp 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.

    Notes

    If your skewers are large the mushrooms might split.  Microwave the mushrooms for 1-2 minutes on high to soften them before sliding on the skewers. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 470mg | Potassium: 878mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1120IU | Vitamin C: 25.8mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 3.2mg

    You might also like to try these:

    • Authentic Moroccan Spice Blend: Ras el Hanout
      Here is an easy spice blend to make at home. Use a spice grinder or coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices to make this Moroccan spice blend: Ras El Hanout. If you want to go old school you can use a mortar and pestle. You can sprinkle this on chicken, kebabs, lamb, add it to your tagine dish or slow cooker. Try some in soups and stews too. The flavors are amazing. | ethnicspoon.com
    • Tangy Sweet Beef Kebabs
      Juicy tender beef kebabs with a Latin twist! Marinated in HERDEZ® Salsa Verde, garlic, nutmeg, salt & oregano. | ethnicspoon.com
    • Spicy Beef Puff Pastries - Pastelitos de Carne
      A photo of pastelitos de carne on a wooden platter.
    « Tarte aux Pommes - French Apple Tart
    Tilapia Ceviche Recipe »
    319 shares
    • 178

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Danielle

      May 20, 2019 at 11:33 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    2. Gloria | Homemade & Yummy

      May 20, 2019 at 2:27 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    3. Jackie

      May 20, 2019 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    4. Denise

      May 23, 2019 at 10:29 am

      5 stars
      This looks delicious. That spice blend sounds amazing! I love grilling season, I'm always trying new recipes!

      Reply
    5. Eva

      May 24, 2019 at 1:25 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    6. Jennifer T Tammy

      May 24, 2019 at 12:35 pm

      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!

      Reply
    7. Elena

      May 26, 2019 at 4:53 am

      I love ras el hanout! What a great way to use it! This recipe is perfect for the grilling season!

      Reply
    8. Lorie

      May 26, 2019 at 7:45 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 26, 2019 at 7:39 pm

        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!

        Reply
    9. Charity

      May 26, 2019 at 3:09 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    10. Amanda

      May 26, 2019 at 5:52 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    11. Daniela

      May 26, 2019 at 6:36 pm

      These beef kebabs sounds delish and I love cooking with tons of spices! Def inspired to give these a shot :)!

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 26, 2019 at 7:37 pm

        A spicy kebab goes so well with some jasmine rice and hummus!

        Reply
    12. Carol Borchardt

      May 26, 2019 at 7:56 pm

      5 stars
      I'm all about Moroccan food and now that it's grilling season, these are perfect! Definitely going to give these a go!

      Reply
    13. Jo

      May 26, 2019 at 10:24 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Analida profile pictureI have been researching and creating ethnic recipes for over 20 years. I love to share "mostly healthy" easy and affordable ethnic recipes using fresh ingredients, with a bit of culture and food history sprinkled in.... Read more-->

    Monthly Featured - Cuban Food

    • A photo of ropa vieja in a striped bowl with tostones on the side.
      Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja Recipe
    • A photo of pastelitos de guava on a green plate with coffee cup in the background.
      Pastelitos de Guava
    • A photo of Cuban boliche on a white platter with fried plantains on the side.
      How to Make Cuban Boliche
    • A photo of vaca frita on a white plate with caramelized onions and slices limes.
      Cuban Vaca Frita - Latin Style Flank Steak

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Recipe Index

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Our site contains affiliate links to help maintain our publishing activities. If you make a purchase from a link on our site, we may receive a small percentage of that sale, at no extra cost to you. Ethnicspoon.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

    Copyright © 2025 Website managed by SiteCare.com