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This sweet and savory Moroccan dish features chicken, lamb or beef cooked m'qualli-style then garnished with a warm Moroccan pumpkin paste. The chicken version in particular is associated with Eid Al Mawlid, the remembrance of the Prophet's ﷺ birth.
Eid al Mawlid is an important day in Morocco as it is an occasion to reflect on ourselves and listen to some religious chants. Eid al Mawlid follows the lunar calculation. Although not officially observed in many Muslim countries, Moroccan schools and some businesses do take a day or two off.
Moroccan Culinary Traditions for Eid al Mawlid
As far as food is concerned, we have a regional breakfast tradition of serving a classic warm assida, a sort of semolina porridge served with butter and honey. As for lunch, the traditional dish is this delightful chicken m'qualli with its mderbel of pumpkin. Some choose to make a m'qualli of meat instead of chicken—it's the same recipe apart from the cooking time—but the chicken version is the one associated with eid while meat might be preferred the rest of the year.
This recipe is the combination of how to make a m'qualli for sweet dishes and the recipe for sweet Moroccan pumpkin paste. It's as easy as that.
