An exotic blend of spices, Ras el hanout is Moroccan and in the same school as a complex Indian curry or Mexican mole. It’s name in Arabic translates to “head of the shop” and suggests the blend was a combination of the best spices a shop keeper had to offer. There is no single recipe and different families, restaurants or shops will have slightly different blends. Nevertheless, common ingredients include turmeric, cumin, ginger and cinnamon – some variations have more than 20 different spices!
We’ve used this delicious spice in our Beef Tagine. Staying with the North Africa theme, Tagine is a type of stew named after the earthenware pot in which it was traditionally cooked. Traditionally a vegetarian dish it is typically made with hearty root vegetables. Our recipe includes beef and is perfect for a cold winter night!