The article - Authentic Moroccan Spice Blend: Ras el Hanout - appeared first on Analida's Ethnic Spoon - Analida's Ethnic Spoon - Create easy ethnic recipes from around the world and learn about the best international cuisine.. Enjoy!

Ras el Hanout is an authentic Moroccan Spice Blend that is rich and aromatic to say the least. Its name in Arabic translates to top of the shop. This means that the quality of the spices that go into this amazing blend are “top notch” for lack of a better term.

According to some of my Middle Eastern friends spices are normally purchased in the market. As one would expect everyone has their favorite spice vendor.

My sisters were recently in Istanbul and sent me some fabulous pictures of their adventures in the  market. They also bought me some wonderful saffron. I was fascinated by how incredibly beautiful and exotic everything looked. One of these days… Turkey is definitely on my bucket list.

My recipe for authentic Moroccan spice blend: ras el hanout  is a perfect addition to your arsenal of seasonings. It is definitely the spice blend to have for any number of tagine dishes whether meat or vegetarian.  Remember that the word tagine is used interchangeably for the cooking vessel as well as the finished dish. Use this spice blend  also on soups, grilled meats, vegetables, and on special relishes that can be served with couscous.

Now, here is an interesting fact: the number spices used to make an authentic Moroccan spice blend varies from person to person. For my recipe, I used a total of 12, but I read that there can be as many as 50-100!  It all depends on taste buds, and desired nuances which can be spicy, savory, or even floral. For my blend I decided to experiment a bit and added some crushed lavender which gave my spice blend a subtle floral hint.

For my authentic Moroccan spice blend: ras el hanout,  I started with cardamom pods and whole cloves which I placed in an old coffee grinder I keep around just for the purpose of grinding spices. If you want to go old school, you can use a manual spice grinder, or even a mortar and pestle.

For the remaining spices I went on the recommendation of a Moroccan Fulbright student currently attending and teaching at the university where I work. One thing he told me is that there are some spices/ingredients which we can’t get here because they are native to Morocco and other Mediterranean regions. One of these ingredients is chufa, the tuber of a plant that grows in Southern Europe, North Africa, and the island of Madagascar.

All in all, ras el hanout, is what gives Moroccan food its characteristic flavor. Making your own spice blend can be very rewarding Ever since I first made my own chili powder a number of years ago, I’ve been fascinated with making my own spice blends.

You can also use this authentic Moroccan spice blend: ras el hanout in marinades, just mix with olive oil and pour over beef or chicken. You can also use it as a dry rub. For example, just pat it over a roaster chicken and bake it. It’s delicious! Sprinkle over pita bread for a savory snack as well. The possibilities are endless.

By the way, if you are interested in some other great Moroccan recipes take a look at these:

Moroccan saffron chicken: The delicate taste of saffron shines through.

Moroccan country bread: Khobz Maghribi is a perfect accompaniment to any Moroccan dish. It’s great by itself also, and not difficult to make.

Moroccan lamb tagine with apricots is a favorite at my house. A perfect blend of spices with a sweet touch.

If you love soups, then Moroccan Harira: Chickpea and Lentil soup is perfect for you. Hearty and delicious.

The article - Authentic Moroccan Spice Blend: Ras el Hanout - appeared first on Analida's Ethnic Spoon - Analida's Ethnic Spoon - Create easy ethnic recipes from around the world and learn about the best international cuisine.. Enjoy!