Ras el hanout is a fantastic North African spice blend, complex, warm and fragrant, without too much heat. It takes just a few minutes to combine these eleven spices, most of which you probably have in house, and there are so many good reasons to have a jar of Ras el hanout on hand. It’s a delicious rub for beef, chicken or fish and a wonderful flavor base for soups, stews and marinades.
“Ras el hanout” is Arabic for “head of the shop,” which refers to the fact that this mix of spices is top of the line, the best mix of spices in the shop. And I have to say, it’s become the head of my spice cabinet. I’ve been fairly obsessed with it lately – rubbing it on lamb before grilling; mixing it into yogurt for marinating chicken; smearing it on eggplant before roasting. So far, everything I’ve made with ras el hanout has been totally delicious. …
