Maakouda is a popular street food in Morocco. It is sold in markets and small food stalls across the country. It is made from mashed potatoes mixed with spices, shaped into small patties, and fried until golden. Outside is crisp, inside is soft. Sometimes it is eaten alone, sometimes inside bread as a quick sandwich. This version keeps the traditional street-style preparation.
😌 Difficulty: Easy
⏱️ Preparation time: 20 minutes
🔥 Cooking time: 20 minutes
⏳ Total time: 40 minutes
👥 Servings: 4 (about 8 fritters)
Ingredients
- 600 g potatoes, peeled
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons flour
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Oil for frying
Typical side:
- Harissa (spicy chili paste)
- Moroccan bread (khobz – round flat bread)
Instructions
- Cut the potatoes into chunks and boil in salted water until very soft, about 15-20 minutes.
- Drain well and mash until smooth. Let cool slightly.
- Add garlic, cumin, paprika, parsley, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
- Add egg and flour. Mix until the mixture holds together.
- Shape into small round patties about 1-2 cm thick.
- Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
- Fry the patties for about 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crisp.
- Remove and place on paper towel to drain excess oil.
- Serve warm with harissa or inside bread.
SpinThatCuisine Tip 💡
Let the mashed potatoes cool before shaping. Warm mixture is too soft and will not hold its shape during frying.