The Moroccan fried potato balls sold as street food are called makouda.
Makouda, also spelled maakouda or ma‘quda, is a Maghrebi potato fritter made from a seasoned potato-based mixture. Mashed or puréed potato is commonly combined with ingredients such as garlic, salt, hot pepper, egg, herbs, or cheese before being shaped and fried.
In Morocco, makouda is especially associated with street stalls and inexpensive sandwiches. The fried potato cake is often placed inside Moroccan bread and served with harissa, creating a filling snack popular with students, workers, and other city residents. It is also commonly eaten during Ramadan as part of the evening meal that breaks the daily fast.
The name can appear in several spellings because it is transliterated from Arabic. That variation does not indicate a different dish. Makouda should also not be confused with harcha, a semolina griddle bread, sfenj, a Moroccan doughnut, or briouat, a filled pastry.