When talking about Moroccan food, people often think of Tagine – a dish of slow cooked meat or vegetables in a cone-shape earthenware pot. Don’t worry, you’ll eat a lot of tagine that will last you long after you leave Morocco.
Unlike French who bring snails to fine dining ,Moroccans brings them to the streets. When you roam streets of Morocco or many squares of the city when the sun starts to set and people start to come out. More likely you’ll see people gather around a food cart ( in some case, a FOOD TRUCK!! ) with a big pot full of steaming snails , waiting for a bowl of Ghoulal.
What is Ghoulal ?
Ghoulal is Moroccan Snail Soup. A very common street food in Morocco. The land snails in their shell are boiled in a tasty broth with a blend of Moroccan herb and spice. The brown broth is packed with hearty flavor with a very subtle earthiness to it. It reminds me of grass and mud but in a pleasant way.
“Hearty and earthy flavor packed with Moroccan herbs and spice “
How to order?
To order, just choose a bowl size. There are usually small, medium,and large. Some vendor might offer a kid size. The large bowl will cost you about USD$2.00. It always serves in a ceramic bowl alongside with another bowl of the broth. Some vendor might give the bowl of broth when you finish all the snails.
How to eat?
“Forget the utensils. A toothpick is your friend”
Don’t bother asking for a fork. All you get is a toothpick to pick the meat out of the shell. Put it in your mouth and throw the shell in another bucket.
Something about eating a bowl of Ghoulal brings out the humble emotion in me. I don’t know it comes from the earthy flavor of the snails and soup or being among locals on the street eating their comfort food.
Next time you are in Morocco, don’t move at a snail’s pace. Hurry and get a bowl of Ghoulal. (sorry I had to get one snail joke in there.)
Happy Travelling and Eating.
Patt W
