Ras el hanout

Ras el hanout

What it is

The name means head of the shop — the best a spice merchant has, and every merchant's blend is different by design. Traditional versions ran to thirty ingredients and included rosebuds, and some historical ones contained things now illegal.

In the kitchen

Bloom it in fat at the start, never sprinkle it on at the end. Half the blend is woody spices that need heat to open.

Goes with

Lamb Couscous Carrot Chickpeas Preserved lemon Almond Onion Date

Also used with

Dried apricot

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