What to Serve with Moroccan Tagines? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Tagines are extremely common in more cuisines around North Africa, but they have gained notoriety as a Moroccan dish.

Known under different names, this dish has taken its name after the earthenware pot used in the cooking process.

Now, tagines can be eaten as a brunch or a snack, but they can also be turned into a proper meal with the right dish.

Not sure what to serve with Moroccan tagines? It is, indeed, a bit challenging to find the perfect side dish, but not impossible – here is everything you have to know.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Moroccan Tagines?

If you think about it, you could describe tagines as a stew.

Now, most types of stew can be eaten alone.

They are based on a plethora of ingredients, and they represent full meals.

However, certain types of stew can cause nausea because of all the oils and juices in their composition.

This one goes in the same category.

Having it alone will make you feel nauseous.

If you cook for someone else, chances are they will expect a side – even something plain, like bread.

Fortunately, there are lots of good options out there.

What to Serve with Moroccan Tagines? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Here are some good options when not sure what to serve with Moroccan tagines.

1. Crispy Carrot Salad

This is one of the most popular side dishes in Moroccan cuisine, and for some good reasons.

It takes five or 10 minutes to prepare, so it is great for emergencies.

Second, it is crunchy and works well with the stew – it can complement its actual texture.

Third, it adds a bit of color, but it also brings in vitamins and other nutrients.

As for the actual taste, it has a slightly sweet aroma that works well with the tagines.

In other words, there is nothing wrong with this side dish.

2. Fresh Marinated Olives

Olives represent a blessing for any type of stew out there, and the Moroccan tagines will always work well in this combo.

Homemade marinated olives are part of the Moroccan cuisine – every house in the country has a few jars with such olives ready to use.

You can also eat them as appetizers or snacks.

Preparing this side dish is simple.

The slightly bitter aroma of olives is impossible to ignore in this combo – plus, they are quite savory and will not disappoint.

You can find such side dishes in commerce as well, but the homemade alternative is much better.

3. Tomato and Cucumber Salad

This recipe is a classic in most cuisines – tomatoes and cucumbers will always go hand in hand.

However, the Moroccan style brings in a bunch of extras, such as green onions, olive oil, and lemon juice.

Why does it work with Moroccan tagines? Simple – first of all, it is crunchy.

A bit of crunchiness will always complement a well-made stew.

Then, there are a bunch of tasty flavors that will match the ones in the stew – not to mention the extra punch of vitamins and minerals.

How long does it take to prepare such a salad? Less than five minutes.

4. Crunchy Cheese Briouats

Imagine the classic Chinese rolls – whether they are filled with veggies or meat.

Now, imagine them with cheese in the middle.

This is what the classic cheese briouats bring in.

Stick to Greek feta cheese and some mozzarella – a couple of different types of cheese will work wonders.

The inside is soft and cheesy – it will most likely spread out of the rolls.

The outside is crunchy and will work well with the tagines.

As for the taste, the intense cheese flavors will be very easy to notice and will contrast the ingredients in tagines – in a positive way, of course.

5. Roasted Pepper Salad

The pepper salad is classic and not just in the Moroccan cuisine, but all over the world.

The Moroccan variety is a bit spicier though.

Now, there are plenty of varieties for this recipe.

Roasting peppers will release more flavors than normally.

They will soften a little, but they will retain some of their original crunchiness.

You can serve this dish cold, but you can also keep it slightly warm – just a matter of personal preferences.

The flavor is refreshing and will make the tagines feel less nauseous.

6. Moroccan Orange Salad

An orange salad may seem a little unusual for Moroccan tagines, but the posh combo of salty and sweet will leave your guests speechless.

The fun thing about a Mexican orange salad is that you can eat it with salty dishes, but also as a dessert – obviously, not during the same meal.

All in all, this dish takes about five minutes to prepare.

It is worth noting that not everyone may appreciate a mix of sweet and salty.

If you are not used to it, your taste buds will take a few bites to get used to it.

But then, the tangy flavors of orange will make the difference.

7. Potato, Carrot, and Rice Salad

Rice has always been a complementary side dish for stews, and Moroccan tagines make no exception either.

However, this is not regular rice – instead, it has to be enhanced with potatoes and carrots.

Chop everything into tiny pieces and mix things together – you will be pleasantly surprised.

Potatoes have a hearty aroma – meanwhile, carrots are slightly sweet.

Throw in the deep savor of rice, and you have the perfect side dish.

As if all these were not enough, rice is also fulfilling and can make the tagines feel lighter.

Conclusion

In the end, figuring out what to serve with Moroccan tagines can be a bit tricky because this stew is far from the ordinary meal you might be familiar with.

But then, a bit of research on the Moroccan cuisine will tell you what you need to know for a complementary side dish.

Some of the above-mentioned dishes are basic – others are more sophisticated.

All of them are suitable for Moroccan tagines and can bring in completely different experiences.