Ras el hanout: The recipe

Ras el hanout

Why spend money on a spice blend when you can just make it yourself at a fraction of the cost? You'll never buy blends again - especially the ones that are a challenge to find in the first place.

When I first read about ras el hanout, I had no idea what it was. It started appearing in recipes and conversation, so I turned to Google to learn more. Soon enough, I discovered ras el hanout as a Moroccan sweet, spicy, and savory spice blend. It had me intrigued, and soon I realized how challenging it was to find in my local grocer. Shortly thereafter, I was back on the computer searching for a recipe. 

My search showed an endless list of variations. I chose one at random, and ever since I've been concocting my own personal blend. It's now just how I like it, and I use it in many savory dishes with fish, chicken, bean, lentils, grains, and far too many vegetables to count. 

Happily, ras el hanout sits, displayed on my spice rack with a permanent presence. 

the recipe

Ingredients: 
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground fenugreek
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cayenne
1 sweet paprika 
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Store in an airtight container out of sunlight in a cool, dark place. 

If you like this spice blend, you'll love baharat as well. It's a widely used Middle Eastern spice blend, similar to ras el hanout. Get it here.