Alcohol-Free Party menu
Moroccan Mocktail and Mezze Menu — A Full Alcohol-Free Party Spread
Morocco's food and drink culture was largely built without alcohol in the picture, which makes it an unusually strong template for a genuinely alcohol-free party rather than a menu with the wine simply removed. Thick fruit juices, mint tea and a spread of small savoury dishes carry the whole evening on their own. A fuller set of Moroccan non-alcoholic drinks sits alongside the mezze dishes below for further options.
The menu
Drink
Avocado and almond milk juice
Thick, sweet, almost dessert-like, and a genuine Moroccan favourite rather than an alcohol substitute.
Drink
Fresh orange and pomegranate juice
Bright, simple, and easy to make in a large jug for several guests at once.
Salad
Zaalouk and carrot salad for the table
Cooked salads to graze on through the evening alongside the drinks.
Savoury
Briouats, fried and served warm
A handheld pastry that pairs easily with any of the drinks on offer.
Sweet
A small platter of pastries such as chebakia
For guests who want something sweet as the evening goes on.
Drink
Mint tea, poured throughout the evening
The steady anchor drink for a Moroccan gathering, alcohol or not.
Shopping list
- Avocados and almond milk or ground almonds
- Oranges and pomegranates
- Aubergines, carrots and tomatoes for the salads
- Warqa pastry and a savoury filling for briouats
- Sesame seeds, honey and anise for chebakia, or a ready-bought platter
- Sugar or honey to sweeten the juices
- Gunpowder green tea and plenty of fresh mint
- Ice, if serving any drinks chilled
Prep timeline
-
Day before
Make the cooked salads and, if frying from scratch, the chebakia, both of which keep well overnight.
-
2 hours before
Shape the briouats ready to fry, and prepare the fruit for both juices.
-
1 hour before
Blend the avocado juice fresh — it is best made close to serving rather than sitting for hours.
-
30 minutes before
Juice the oranges and pomegranates and fry the briouats.
-
Throughout the party
Keep a pot of mint tea topped up and refresh the juices as they run low.
Host's tips
- Blend the avocado juice close to serving time — it browns and separates if left sitting for too long.
- Keep at least two juices on offer, one thick and dessert-like, one lighter and fruitier, to suit different tastes through the evening.
- A steady pot of mint tea, kept warm and topped up, does more to anchor the evening than any single showpiece drink.
- Serve savoury and sweet pastries on separate platters so guests can graze on whichever suits the moment.
- There is no need to create elaborate mocktail recipes — Morocco's own fresh juices and tea are already a complete drinks menu without alcohol.
Questions about this menu
What do Moroccans drink instead of alcohol at parties?
Thick fresh fruit juices, particularly avocado and almond milk blends, alongside mint tea and simple fruit juices like orange or pomegranate, form a complete drinks table without any alcohol involved.
Is avocado juice sweet or savoury?
Sweet — it is blended with milk or almond milk and usually sugar or a little honey, closer to a thick milkshake than a savoury dish, and is a genuine Moroccan favourite rather than a modern invention.
What food pairs well with Moroccan drinks at a party?
Savoury pastries like briouats and a spread of cooked salads work well through an evening of drinking juices and tea, offering enough to graze on without a full sit-down meal.
Can Moroccan mint tea be made in a large batch for a party?
Yes — it scales up easily in a large teapot or urn, though it is best brewed in batches through the evening rather than all at once, since the mint and sugar balance is best when tea is freshly poured.
How far ahead can the food for this menu be prepared?
The cooked salads and any fried pastries like chebakia can be made a day ahead, while the fresh juices and briouats are best done closer to the party for the best texture and flavour.
Learn to cook this menu with a local in Marrakech
Every dish here is taught, hands-on, in a Marrakech cooking class — or taste them across the medina on a guided food tour.