Ras el Hanout

What is Ras el Hanout?

Literally “top of the shop,” ras el hanout is a Moroccan spice blend that can contain more than 30 ingredients. For the Moroccan souks (spice merchants) it is a point of honour to have the most sought after version of this blend.

There are stories of these spice merchants creating custom blends of ras el hanout for special clients with ingredients that might include hashish and even Spanish fly.

Our own version nixes the Spanish fly and hash but does include many traditional ingredients like cubeb pepper, long pepper, lavender and rose buds. A good ras el hanout is one of the finest examples of how well a diverse variety of spices can meld to create an ingredient that is greater than its individual components.

Ras el hanout is somewhat curry-like with a spicy kick, a floral fragrance and subtle nuances within an overall robust flavor. It is extremely versatile, adding a golden colour and an aromatic and enticing flavor to chicken and vegetable tagines. Add a half teaspoon to a cup of rice or cous cous while cooking to transend the ordinary. Our favourite is to use ras el hanout as a spice rub on lamb chops grilled on the barbeque.

Recipe for Ras el Hanout

This streamlined version includes many of the main spices of the traditional mixture.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seeds

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Preparation:

In a small bowl whisk together all ingredients until combined well. Spice blend keeps in an airtight container at cool room temperature 1 month.

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