Moroccan Cooking Class in Marrakech with Chef Laila

Cook a tagine and salads from scratch, then sit down and eat what you made

A half-day hands-on cooking class in Marrakech where you prepare Moroccan salads, a traditional tagine with Ras El Hanout spices, and couscous under the guidance of Chef Laila, who has taught cooking for 12 years. The class runs four hours, includes tea and coffee, and adapts to vegetarian, vegan or allergy needs. Children from age 2 are welcome, and the guide speaks English, French and Arabic.

The Experience

What does it take to cook a real Moroccan tagine? Chef Laila walks you through it step by step, starting with a glass of traditional Moroccan tea while she introduces you to the spices—Ras El Hanout, preserved lemon, charmoula—and explains how they work together. She'll ask about any dietary needs or allergies upfront so the menu can shift to vegetarian or vegan if that's what you need. Then the hands-on work begins: you'll prepare fresh Moroccan salads like zaalouk and zucchini charmoula, learning the simple techniques and flavor combinations that make them work.

The main event is the tagine. You're not watching—you're doing the cooking, with Laila guiding you through each step and sharing the stories behind the recipes as you go. The menu also includes caramelised carrots, couscous, and orange à la cannelle for dessert. The whole class runs four hours, which gives you time to actually learn rather than rush through.

At the end, you sit down together and eat the meal you've just made. That's the point: you leave knowing how to cook these dishes at home, not just having watched someone else do it.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• coffee and tea.
• step-by-step instruction in preparing Moroccan salads (zaalouk, zucchini charmoula, caramelised carrots), a traditional tagine with Ras El Hanout, couscous, and orange à la cannelle.
• the meal you cook.

Good to know

Stroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Chef Laila cooking classes

Is this one for you?Book this class if you want to leave Marrakech knowing how to cook these dishes at home—the four-hour format and hands-on setup mean you're actually making the food and learning the techniques, not just tasting what someone else prepared.

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Top questions

What spices will I learn to use in the cooking class?

Ras El Hanout is the main spice blend you'll work with in the tagine, along with preserved lemon and charmoula. Chef Laila introduces you to the aromas and uses of Moroccan spices at the start of the class so you understand how they build depth into the dishes.

Can I do the cooking class if I'm vegetarian or vegan?

Yes. Chef Laila checks for dietary preferences and allergies at the beginning and adapts the menu so you can prepare vegetarian or vegan versions of the salads and main dishes.

How long does the half-day cooking class take?

The class runs four hours from start to finish, including the tea welcome, spice introduction, hands-on cooking, and the meal at the end.

Are children allowed in the cooking class?

Children are welcome from age 2. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available if needed.

What languages does Chef Laila speak?

Chef Laila teaches in English, French, and Arabic, so you can book in whichever language suits you.