March 2023 Visit Marrakesh with Pitcher and Powell Culinary Adventure

It is hard to believe that our last visit to Marrakesh was in October 2019. However, the good news is that Pitcher and Powell are planning a return trip to Morocco from March 3-9, 2023. Join the founders for an unforgettable six (6) night getaway to exotic North Africa.

Getting to Marrakesh from Provence is a quick flight from the Marseille-Provence airport. The riad selected by Pitcher and Powell is a sanctuary inside the Medina. Beautifully renovated and decorated by an Italian-Swiss couple who have lived on the African continent for almost 40 years. The boutique hotel only has eight (8) rooms. Ideally suited for Pitcher and Powell, the group enjoys the whole riad, providing guests with a “home away from home” experience.

Travel with Pitcher and Powell

You would think that Barbara Pitcher and Tasha Powell had been in the tour business forever – they thought of everything. As a result, their Morocco tour itinerary pace allows for enough downtime, options for excursions, and enough of a taste of Marrakech to persuade you to return.

Barbara and Tasha are food lovers, so cooking classes are core to their Pitcher and Powell culinary adventures. Discover the secrets of Moroccan cuisine, including salads, spices, tagines, pastilla, couscous and the hard to resist pastries. From Ras el Hanout to orange blossom water, the days pass with a whirlwind of tempting aromas.

Explore Marrakesh

After a seamless transfer from the airport and a warm welcome to the hotel, it’s time to settle into your room and change into yoga clothes. On the riad’s private rooftop, the trilingual instructor will lead the first restorative yoga session, a perfect body-friendly recipe after a travel day. Following yoga, it’s time for the first bites of Moroccan cuisine and dinner al fresco. The magical week began to unfold.

Maison Yves Saint Laurent

Pitcher and Powell’s program includes:

Daily yoga classes
Cooking classes
A guided tour of the Medina
A visit to the famous Jardins Majorelle and the Yves St Laurent Museum
And, time to explore, shop in the souks, and enjoy a hamman experience

Discover the Pitcher and Powell culinary adventures here.

The Founders

Barbara Pitcher is a Canadian artist living in Provence, and Tasha Powell is a food stylist and Cordon Bleu-trained chef who splits her time between Los Angeles and the South of France. This creative duo met in Provence, where they discovered shared interests, including food, art, travel, and yoga. After many conversations and dinner parties, the idea for a boutique travel company emerged – Pitcher and Powell – International Cuisine and Culture. Read more about their culinary tours here.

Try These Moroccan Recipes

Here are a few Moroccan specialities to make at home:

Chicken, Carrot and Apricot Tagine

The sweetness of the apricots paired with the savoury chicken and golden roasted almonds makes for a meal to remember.

Check out this recipe

Chicken Tagine with Green Olives and Preserved Lemon

Adapted from a recipe by Tyler Florence.

Check out this recipe

Moroccan Tagine with Seasonal Vegetables

Preparing a tagine requires a bit of effort to clean and cut the vegetables. After that, it is all about layering and allowing the slow-cooking process to take over. Please note that your vegetable selection may vary depending on what is available.

Check out this recipe

Moroccan Pastillas - Vegetable and Shrimp

Tasha Powell

The methodology for making pastilla is the same whether you create vegetarian, poultry or seafood versions. First, prepare the filling, wrap it in the dough and bake until hot. Enjoy!

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine North African, Vegetarian

Servings 8 pastillas

Equipment

• 1 mixing bowls, stainless steel
• 1 skillet all-clad non-stick (10- and 12-inch)
• 1 baking sheet, rimmed, non-stick 10x15
• 8 ramekins (8 oz)
• 1 food processor to grate the carrots and zucchini

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 1/4 lb raw shrimp cleaned, (defrosted if frozen)
• 1/4 cup olive oil to marinate the shrimp
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 medium carrots
• 2 medium zucchini (courgette)
• 1 yellow onion sliced thin
• 1 package of Phyllo sheets found at most supermarkets
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 lb unsalted butter melted

Dry Ingredients for the Filling:

• 1 tsp Dried Ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 pinch saffron
• 2 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp parsley dried, or 1 tbsp fresh, chopped
• 1/2 lemon for juice

To Finish:

• 6 oz Toasted Almond Slices
• 2 tbsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar

Instructions

 

• Marinate the ½ pound of shrimp with olive oil and red pepper flakes for one hour.
• Mix all dry ingredients for the filling in a bowl and whisk together and set aside.
• Saute the onion slices until translucent and set aside.
• Grate zucchini and carrots and cook on medium/low heat and add the onions to the pan.
• Sprinkle the dry spice mixture over the grated, cooking vegetables, add the lemon juice and allow to cook for about 10 minutes (until some of the moisture from the zucchini and carrots is cooked off).
• Let the mixture cool for 15 minutes.
• Whip 2 eggs with a fork for 30 seconds and add to the cooled mixture. Mix well.
• Place a mound (3 oz) of the filling on a ½ sheet of phyllo dough. Brush the inside dough sheet with butter and fold over the top of the filling. Flip this on to a new sheet of phyllo, paint the sheet with butter and fold towards the center. Repeat this process 4 more times and place in ramekins.
• For the shrimp version, add 2 medium uncooked shrimp (cut in half lengthwise) to each pastilla.
• Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200.
• Sprinkle each pastilla with powdered sugar, cinnamon and top with toasted almonds!
  

Notes

Note: Phyllo (or filo) dough works well for this recipe. The traditional pastry in Morocco is called warka, and it is a highlight of our culinary tours to see the dough made by specialists with quick hands.

Keyword Carrots, Phyllo, Prawns, Seafood Recipes, Zucchini

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Moroccan Lamb Mechoui

Since I do not have enough people to feed a proper mechoui to I generally cook a leg or preferably a shoulder of lamb. The shoulder lends itself to the longer cooking time and yields incredibly tender and juicy meat. I marinate the lamb for at least two hours but preferably overnight. I like to cook the mechoui in a hot smoker or charcoal grill but an oven at 375°F will work as well. Serve with saffron rice or golden couscous.

Check out this recipe

Sweet Moroccan Cucumber Salad

This recipe serves 4 people as a starter or salad. Alternatively, serve as a side dish with grilled meat or fish.

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Moroccan Carrot Salad

Easy to make and a delicious side dish with roasted meat or fish. Also, perfect for a picnic or just because.

Check out this recipe

Lavender Honey Brushed Lamb Chops Served with Moroccan Chickpea Couscous Salad

Prepare the salad in advance and then the only thing that is left to do when your guests arrive is to roast the lamb. Easy and delicious with all the flavours of Provence combined on a plate.

Check out this recipe