Moroccan "Marqa" with Chicken: A Warm Taste of Home and Life Without Filters

Moroccan "Marqa" 

​Hi everyone, ​Today, I want to introduce you to something very special through my blog—authentic Moroccan food, prepared right in my humble kitchen. I know you always hear about Morocco, but through my posts, I want to bring you closer to how we actually live. This is the real life of Moroccan people, simple and shared without any filters.

​Our dish today is called "Marqa." It’s a delicious chicken stew that is famous in every single Moroccan home. If you ever walk through a local neighborhood here, you’ll smell its amazing aroma drifting from the windows. While everyone might serve it a bit differently, the heart of the recipe is always the same.

​Here is an easy recipe for this famous dish:

​What you’ll need:

• ​Chicken: You can use breast, thighs, or whatever you have on hand—it all works!
• ​Veggies: Chopped onion, carrots sliced lengthwise, peas, green beans, and potatoes (also sliced lengthwise). You can add some zucchini (green squash) too.
• ​The Spices: Turmeric, ginger, black pepper, and a bay leaf. These spices give the dish its unique and special flavor.

​How to prepare it with love:

1. ​In a pot, add 2 or 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
2. ​Add the chopped onions and the chicken pieces. Then, add the spices and let them sauté (fry) together nicely so the chicken soaks up all that flavor.
3. ​Add the carrots, peas, and green beans.
4. ​Pour in some chicken broth if you have it, or just some plain boiling water. Don’t add too much water; we want the sauce to be rich.
5. ​Let it cook over a low heat.
6. ​As a final step, when everything is almost cooked, add the potatoes and zucchini since they cook quickly.
7. ​Let it simmer until the veggies are tender and the sauce has thickened. You can garnish it with some olives if you like.

​This is a meal that kids absolutely love because it’s so colorful and full of variety. It’s a complete, healthy dish with both meat and plenty of vegetables.

​I took a photo of the dish right after I finished cooking—it's finally time to eat now, haha! I’m writing this to you from my kitchen, and I truly hope you give it a try. I’d be so happy to read your beautiful comments, so let’s talk in the comment section below!

​Sending you lots of sparkles...🩷

Nour Ell

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