Cornish Food Market

What is Ras-el-Hanout..?

September 05, 2012 in | 0 comments

The easiest way to imagine Ras-el-Hanout is as a North African version of curry powder - full of aromatic and pungent spices but not containing as much chili powder, so spicy but not overpoweringly hot.

The phrase Ras-el-Hanout means, literally, 'head of the shop' in Arabic, the best blend of spices any particular spice dealer had to offer. This blending naturally became very competitive with variations from shop to shop, town to town, region to region and even from one nation to another. Typically containing cardamom, clove, cinnamon, chili, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, peppercorn, turmeric and often florals such as lavender or rose some recipes include over one hundred ingredients many of which are not found in Europe.

Ras-el-Hanout makes a perfect dry rub for meat, particularly lamb cooked in the North African fashion, slowly with dried fruits but also can be used for flavouring couscous or rice as an accompaniment.