Today we did some cooking with a Berber family. It amazes me how hard the “simple life” really is.
We are staying in a most wonderful guest house in Tisselday, a small town between Ouarzaruate where they make most of the movies filmed in Morocco and Marrakesh.
Our New Zealand neighbors had stayed here last year and recommended it, mentioning that they had made bread with the women on the floor.
This image of preparing food on the floor had stayed in my head for quite a while and I will admit that I was a bit leery to spend time cooking with this Berber family, yet on the flip side I didn’t want to miss what had been described as such an awesome experience.
Cooking with a Berber family actually lived up to the hype. We were made to feel as though we are part of the family. The women sat with us on the floor and we made bread.
Cooking With a Berber Family
I am please to report, there was a large bowl and a special pad involved – so “on the floor” didn’t mean the food and our shoes touched the same surface.
The process involved mixing, kneading, rising, kneading, raising, shaping, stacking and then we carry it out to the wood fired oven, which is heated and the bread is then placed directly on the coals. If you are wondering, it was the best bread we have ever eaten.
Here we are waiting for the coals to get hot enough:
Next we learned how to make the tagine, the salad and the desert. The Berber women don’t use a cutting board, but rather cut all the vegetables in their hands. She was so fast, and we were cautious and slow – and successful, no cut fingers. An hour or so of cooking and we had a fantastic dinner.
Here is our girls and the family (minus the kids):
While we waited for the food to cook, one of the men took us across the street to see the minerals gathered from the nearby hills.
All photos ©Rhonda Albom 2012
Related Links:
- Dar Isselday (the guest house where we stayed, and my recommendation)
- Learn more about the Berber people on Wikipedia
- We carried the Lonely Planet Guide to Morocco
- Our Favorite Bagel Recipe
- Make Your Own Braided Challah Bread
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Travel with us as we laugh our way around the globe. I am Rhonda Albom, wife, mom, photographer and blogger, sharing the lighter side of our traveling family's life with two teens. 
Rhonda, what a memorable experience. My daughter (11) would kill to spend the day cooking with a Berber family. Hmmm, I believe a visit to Morocco is in order…
Renee D’Antoni recently posted..Mexico: Celebrating Life on the Day of the Dead
We love Morocco! And this day was amazing. We did nothing locally, but rather spent the day with the family. You will need to get a car to get here, but it is so worth it. We were there a month and Dar Isselday felt the most like we were part of the family. My neighbors said the same thing last year. If you really are headed that way, let me know, I have lots of tips for you.
This sounds so great. I can’t wait to hear more about your travels. I am guessing you are taking the photos? Let us see you too in a couple. Can’t wait to see more. It sounds like you are having a great time.
LOL – I am all over the photos, the kids take a few and we have lots of family photos. Keep coming back or check out some of the past posts and you will see me. Thanks for stopping by and welcome to laugh quotes.
Such an interesting and educational place to visit. I am glad the food didn’t touch the floor.
From a “feeling like we were part of the family” perspective, Dar Isselday was probably our favorite place in Morocco.
What an amazing experience!
Lynne recently posted..Best Stocking Stuffers Under $10 For Three Year Old Girls
It was awesome!
That looks great and seems like you are having so much fun cooking with the Berber family. The place is really good to visit and fun cooking with the family is a great idea.
Danyelle Franciosa recently posted..Brisbane Bifold Doors New Beith – Quality Brisbane Bifold Doors Supplying New Beith Area
Thanks Danyelle. Yes, this was a great place to stay and it was really fun to cook with the Berber family.