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Agadir (Morocco)
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Main course
Fish & Seafood
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
520kcal
39gProtein
43gCarbs
22gFat
7gFibre
500 gServing
* Per serving · 500 g. May vary.
Allergens
🐟 Fish
Fish Tagine with Chermoula
How to order / say it
Say it
طاجين السمك بالشرمولة — [feesh ta-jeen bil shar-moo-la]
Order
Fish tagine with chermoula, please.
Locally
من فضلك طاجين السمك بالشرملة
Say locally
Atlantic fish is baked or simmered with chermoula, preserved lemon, olives, and vegetables.
Why try it?
This tagine reflects Agadir's meeting of Atlantic seafood and inland Moroccan spice craft. Ordering it connects the traveler to the port, the fish market, and the city habit of cooking exceptionally fresh fish simply but intensely.
How it tastes
The fish is moist and flaky beneath a bright herb marinade, while preserved lemon brings salty citrus sharpness. Olives, paprika, and olive oil give the sauce a rounded, savory finish.
Origin & History — first documented: 1950
Fish tagines have long been part of Morocco's Atlantic coastal cooking, but Agadir's modern fishing port made them central to the city's public food culture. The local style took shape through the 20th century around daily landings of sea bream, hake, and other Atlantic fish. It became a signature dish in Agadir's fish restaurants and family kitchens.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🐟 500 g firm white fish fillets
- 🥕 250 g tomatoes
- 🥕 250 g potatoes
- 🥕 120 g bell pepper
- 🍋 40 g preserved lemon
- 🥕 60 g green olives
- 🌿 20 g cilantro
- 🌿 15 g parsley
- 🧄 15 g garlic
- 🫒 45 ml olive oil
- 🧂 5 g paprika
Method
- 1 Blend herbs, garlic, paprika, lemon juice, and half the oil into chermoula.
- 2 Marinate the fish for 20 minutes.
- 3 Layer potatoes, tomatoes, and pepper in a tagine and spoon over some chermoula.
- 4 Add fish, preserved lemon, olives, and remaining marinade, then cover and cook until tender.
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مشوي
meh-SHOO-ee
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أتاي بالنعناع
ah-TAY bn-NAH-nah
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شباكية
sha-bah-kee-yah
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كسكس بلحم الضأن
koos-koos beh-lahm ed-daahn
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Starter
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زعلوك
zah-LOOK
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Snack
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Msemen
مسمن
mus-men
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Bread
Vegetarian
Moroccan Semolina Bread
خبز البلبولة
hobz bel-BOOL-ah
A traditional bread made from semolina flour, common in Moroccan meals
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Snack
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كفتة
KEF-tah
Spiced ground beef skewers, grilled to perfection.
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Main course
Fish & Seafood
Sardine Kefta Tagine
طاجين كفتة السردين
sar-deen kef-ta ta-jeen
Fresh sardines are minced with herbs, shaped into balls, and simmered in spiced tomato sauce.
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Dessert
Vegetarian
Tagoula
تاگولا
ta-goo-la
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