Medfouna

Medfouna
Medfouna or Berber pizza at a local restaurant near Merzouga, Errachidia Province
Alternative namesRissani, Berber pizza
CourseMain course
Region or stateDrâa-Tafilalet, Morocco
Associated cuisineBerber cuisine, Moroccan cuisine
Serving temperatureHot

Medfouna (Arabic: المدفونة, "buried"; Standard Moroccan Tamazight: abadir), also known as "Berber pizza" or "desert pizza", is a Berber and Moroccan cuisine, rustic dish from the Middle Atlas of Morocco. It is prepared from a round-shaped dough that is stuffed and baked over a wood fire, soft inside and crispy outside. Unlike pizza, Medfouna consists of two layers of dough: one at the bottom and one on top that covers the filling. It is typically served along with a glass of Moroccan mint tea.

Etymology

In the Drâa-Tafilalet region, medfouna is also known as Rissani, named after the town of Rissani, known for its specialty medfouna.

History

Medfouna is inherited from the Berbers of the oases in the southern region of Morocco. This dish is a symbol of the cultural and culinary traditions of this part of Morocco.

Popularity

The popularity of this dish has increased after British chef Gordon Ramsay, as part of filming his culinary series Uncharted, a travel cooking show organized in partnership with National Geographic channel, travelled to Morocco to discover different aspects of Moroccan gastronomy.

By visiting the Middle Atlas mountains, the British chef introduced viewers to the Medfouna recipe presented by the Berbers of the Middle Atlas. A rustic recipe, made from local products, consisting of various types of mushrooms that grow in the surrounding mountains, spices, and fresh Berber cheese from the region. According to the tradition of the Middle Atlas, Medfouna is cooked over a wood fire, unlike that of the Berbers of Tafilalet who cook it under the desert sand.

A variety of traditional Berber cheese from Morocco used in Medfouna stuffing

Recipe

Preparation of medfouna, from heating stones to cooking and serving
Traditional medfouna, accompanied by mint tea

The stuffing is a combination of spices and herbs, usually accompanied by portions of vegetables, onions, and minced meat (lamb, beef or goat), as well as cheese, coriander, and a little fat. The whole can be topped with slices of hard-boiled eggs.

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Helou, Anissa (2018-10-04). Feast: Food of the Islamic World. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5266-0556-6. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  2. 1 2 "Khobza medfouna | Traditional Flatbread From Morocco | TasteAtlas". TasteAtlas. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  3. ↑ Ramsay, Gordon (2023-05-03). Gordon Ramsay: Kulinarische Abenteuer: Zu Besuch bei den besten Küchenmeistern in aller Welt. 45 Rezepte (in German). Christian Verlag. ISBN 978-3-95961-831-1. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  4. ↑ Mdidech, Jaouad (2017). Visages et paysages du cœur du Maroc. Carnets de voyages (in French). Éditions L'Harmattan. ISBN 978-2-343-10995-4. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  5. ↑ Gregory-Smith, John (2018-04-05). Orange Blossom & Honey: Magical Moroccan recipes from the souks to the Sahara. Octopus. ISBN 978-0-85783-509-3. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  6. ↑ "Madfouna: Morocco's surprising take on pizza". BBC. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  7. ↑ Morocco, Touring In (2023-06-30). "Medfouna: The Berber Pizza Dish In The Desert Of Morocco". Touring In Morocco. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  8. ↑ Jill K. Robinson (2019-06-12). "Gordon Ramsay Treks the Mountains of Morocco". National Geographic. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  9. ↑ Jack (2019-07-17). "Le chef Gordon Ramsey découvre la cuisine amazighe | La Tribune de Marrakech" (in French). Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  10. ↑ Brooke Sabin (2019-07-16). "Suivez Gordon Ramsay dans son voyage gastronomique à travers le monde". National Geographic France (in French). Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  11. ↑ "Gordon Ramsay Tries Medfouna | Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted". YouTube (in French). November 2021. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  12. ↑ "Madfouna". Atlas Obscura. 2018-05-17. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  13. ↑ Khadija El Mary (2012-10-15). "Moroccan Cuisine: Recipe for Amazigh Flatbread or Moroccan Pizza". Morocco World News.