Ras el hanout

Ras el hanout (in Arabic "top of the shop") is a traditional mixture of spices used in the cuisine of North Africa. It is originally from Morocco. There are three types of Ras el hanout - Lamrouzia, L'msagna and Monuza. It is used in almost all local dishes. For example, it can be rubbed on meat.

Ras el hanout

It is rather impossible to say what spices make the Ras el hanout. Every shop or even family has its own version. There are those claiming that its mixture includes over 100 ingredients. Some of the basic spices that can be found in Rash el hanout are cinnamon, coriander, clove, nutmeg, orris root, dried rosebuds etc.

This mixture is usually sold with small pieces of dried plants inside which are then grounded in powder. Some people believe that this combination of spices works as an aphrodisiac.