Moroccan · Street food
Moroccan Tacos (Casablanca Street Style)
Nothing like a Mexican taco, the Moroccan (or French) tacos is a griddled, folded flour wrap stuffed with spiced meat, fries, cheese sauce and harissa, then pressed flat until crisp. A youth-culture street food that took over Casablanca, it's messy, indulgent and completely addictive.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Serves
- 4
- Level
- Medium
Ingredients
- 4 large flour tortillas or flatbreads
- 500 g minced beef or chicken, spiced with cumin and paprika
- 400 g potatoes, cut into fries and fried
- 200 ml cheese sauce (béchamel with grated cheese)
- 3 tbsp harissa or spicy mayo
- 1 onion, sliced and fried
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 3 tbsp oil
- Salt and pepper
Method
- 1
Cook the filling
Fry the spiced mince with the onion, cumin and paprika until browned and cooked through.
- 2
Fry the chips
Fry the potato chips until golden and crisp, then salt.
- 3
Make cheese sauce
Stir grated cheese into a warm béchamel until smooth and pourable.
- 4
Fill
Lay out each wrap, add meat, chips, cheese sauce and a stripe of harissa.
- 5
Fold
Fold the wrap into a rectangular parcel, tucking in the ends.
- 6
Press and griddle
Griddle the folded tacos in a little oil, pressing flat, until crisp and golden on both sides.
Chef's tips
- The pressed griddling is what defines it — a sandwich press or heavy pan both work.
- Keep the fillings inside the fold or they'll leak as it crisps.
- Make it your own with grilled chicken, merguez or kefta.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called tacos?
The name came from France's 'French tacos', a griddled stuffed wrap unrelated to Mexican tacos. It became hugely popular with young people in Morocco's cities, especially Casablanca.
What cheese sauce is used?
A simple béchamel melted with cheese (often processed or a mild melting cheese) gives the gooey, rich stripe running through the filling.