Ras el Hanout: What It Is, How to Use It, and an Easy Homemade Blend

Ras el hanout is the signature spice blend of Moroccan cooking. The name means “head of the shop” in Arabic: traditionally, each spice merchant made their own version from the best spices they had. That is why no two blends are exactly alike.

What is in ras el hanout?

A blend can contain anything from about 10 to more than 30 ingredients. Most include:

• Earthy: cumin, coriander, turmeric
• Warm and sweet: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice
• Bright and fragrant: ginger, cardamom
• A little heat: black pepper, sometimes chili
• Special touches: some blends include dried rose petals, mace or other rare spices

What does it taste like?

Warm, fragrant and slightly sweet, with an earthy base. It is aromatic rather than spicy-hot, closer to a gentle curry powder or garam masala than to chili powder. A little goes a long way.

How to use ras el hanout

• Tagines and stews: bloom 1 to 2 teaspoons in oil with the onions, as in our chickpea tagine.
• Soups: a teaspoon in lentil soup or carrot soup.
• Roasted vegetables: toss carrots, squash or cauliflower with oil, salt and ras el hanout.
• Meat and fish rub: mix with olive oil, garlic and lemon for chicken, lamb or salmon.
• Grains: stir into couscous or rice with raisins and toasted almonds.
• Dips: a pinch in hummus or yogurt dip.

Substitutes

No ras el hanout? Mix 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon turmeric for a quick stand-in. Garam masala or baharat also work in a pinch, though the flavor will be different.

How to store it

Keep it in an airtight jar away from heat and light. Ground spices are safe for a long time but lose their aroma; for the best flavor, use homemade blends within about 6 months.

Homemade ras el hanout

Making your own takes 5 minutes with ground spices from the supermarket. The recipe card below makes about 5 tablespoons.

recipe card

Ras el Hanout: What It Is, How to Use It, and an Easy Homemade Blend

A warm, fragrant Moroccan spice blend made from supermarket ground spices.

Tried & tested

Prep5 min

Total5 min

MakesAbout 5 tablespoons

CuisineMoroccan

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Ingredients −

15

+ servings

• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp ground coriander
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp sweet paprika
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp ground allspice
• 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

Steps

1. Add all the spices to a small bowl.
2. Mix well with a spoon until the color is even.
3. Transfer to a clean, dry jar and close tightly.
4. Store away from heat and light and use within 6 months.

Cook's notes

• For extra aroma, toast whole cumin and coriander seeds in a dry pan, cool and grind them.

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