Medfouna

Medfouna, also known as "Berber pizza" or "desert pizza," is a traditional and rustic culinary dish originating from Morocco. It is prepared from a round-shaped dough that is stuffed, 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.

In the mountains of the Middle Atlas in Morocco, it is baked over a wood fire, then cut into eight pieces and offered to guests along with a glass of Moroccan mint tea.

Etymology
The term Medfouna comes from Arabic (المدفونة) and means "buried." 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.



Recipe
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
Content in this edit is translated from the existing French Wikipedia article at fr:Medfouna (Maroc); see its history for attribution.