ZaaZaa: A decadent avocado smoothie to break the Ramadan fast

Moroccan ZaaZaa is a thick and sweet avocado smoothie that resembles a layered sundae and satisfies as a post-fasting treat during Ramadan.

ZaaZaa is one of Morocco's most decadent treats. It's both a smoothie and a dessert, but its main ingredient may come as a surprise: avocado. 

"In most parts of the world, people think of avocado as a savoury food rather than a dessert, but when I was a kid, we would split an avocado in half, sprinkle some sugar on top and then eat it with a spoon," said Alia Al Kasimi, founder of the online cooking school Flavors of Morocco and author of Moroccan Cookies: 20 Recipes You Must Try Before You Die.

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The name ZaaZaa is a play on the Darija (Moroccan Arabic) word "تيزعزع" (pronounced "TeYZaazaa"), which refers to the act of shaking things up, whether that be physically or emotionally.

The concoction's origins are a bit of a mystery. Morocco's first dedicated avocado orchards weren't set up until the early 2000s, but now Morocco is the ninth largest exporter of the fruit. Al Kasimi says that as avocadoes became more common, it was a natural progression for Moroccans to begin experimenting and becoming more creative in their recipes. 

Despite being referred to as a smoothie, ZaaZaa very much resembles a layered sundae. The "smoothie" component consists of avocados blended with milk and dried fruits, like raisins and dates. The combination is poured into a glass that's drizzled with syrup (chocolate, caramel and strawberry flavours are common choices) and can include layers of sliced fruit such as banana and kiwi. The toppings vary wildly, but KitKat bars, Oreo cookies and whipped cream are popular options. 

"ZaaZaa is a calorie bomb," Al Kasimi said. "It's so thick you have to eat it with a spoon. You top it with almonds, walnuts, cookies, some chocolate sauce – whatever you can find." 

Dave Patera, a food researcher and content creator who recreates recipes that pay tribute to his family's North African roots, echoes that sentiment.

"ZaaZaa is a fan favourite in Morocco," he said. "People get really excited about it and there's almost a bit of a competitive aspect to it: 'What are the most outrageous toppings? How much stuff can we pack into the glass">window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a', container: 'taboola-below-article', placement: 'Below Article', target_type: 'mix' });