Ras el Hanout, a North African Spice mix, is a pungent, earthy spice blend with a balance of sweet and bitter elements, as well as floral notes. Its name translates from Arabic as "head of the shop" because all the best spices go into it!
What I love most about my Middle Eastern kitchen here in Kuwait is how it smells.
Yes, it’s clean, so there’s the background smell of cleaner (which I actually love), lol. But it’s the other smells that captivate me.
The heady aroma of spices mingling with the soft scent of sweet fresh fruit and the bright smell of freshly ground Turkish coffee. Every time I pass the shelf where I keep my canister of Turkish coffee I can’t help but stop for a moment and inhale deeply.
It’s funny how smells can bring you back in time, triggering memories of people or places. My kitchen here smells the same as my mother-in-law’s kitchen did in Damascus. It’s lovely.
On days when I’m mixing my own spice blends, the smell of spice is particularly intoxicating. I don’t always make my own spice mixes – sometimes I buy pre-made mixes from the market – but there are certain mixes I prefer to make myself. I can ensure that the spices are super fresh, and it allows me to customize my mixes.
Ras el Hanout, a Moroccan spice blend, is one such mix. The name translates from Arabic to “head of the shop” (also known as "top of the shelf"), since it’s all the best spices in the shop that go into the mix.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ras el Hanout is a beautifully balanced blend of flavors that's unike any other spice mix.
- It makes a relatively small batch, just over ½ cup. This is enough for at least a couple recipes, and will give you the opportunity to play around with the mix and discover your favorite way to use it. But it doesn't make so much that the ground spices will start to lose their potency before you use it all!
- It'll make your kitchen smell amazing, like a Middle Eastern spice shop.
The Best Ras el Hanout Spice Mix Recipe
This blend can have 40 or more different spices! But the interesting thing about this and any spice mix is that you can have 10 shops or families who each make their own mix slightly differently based on their own preferences or what they have available. Each blend is still considered authentic.
This generally means that spice mixes (especially those with so many ingredients), are pretty forgiving. If you don’t have one or two of the spices on hand, don’t worry so much about it.
Ingredients
- Ginger
- Coriander
- Red chilli powder
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Cinnamon
- Allspice
- Black pepper
- Turmeric
- Orris root
- Mace
- Nutmeg
- Cardamom
- Fennel seed
- Anise seed
- Fenugreek
- Cloves
- Cayenne pepper
- Bay leaves
- Lavender
- Rose petals
How to Make it
You can grind all the spices yourself or buy them pre-ground. And then mix them up!
Storage
Store your spice blend in an airtight container in the pantry. It will stay good for up to 2 years; hoowever, for the best flavor I try to use it within 6 months.
Ras el Hanout FAQs
What Does Ras el Hanout Taste Like?
This North African spice mix has a well-balanced flavor profile. It's pungent with both bitter and sweet elements, as well as a woody earthiness. It's not spicy-hot, but you might find it has a twinge of heat. And the floral elements of lavender and rose petals round it out and make it really special.
How Do You Use Ras el Hanout?
If you’re wondering what to do with Ras el Hanout, it is pretty versatile.
Use it to season couscous, rice, or other grains.
Sprinkle it on fish, chicken, or red meat as a dry rub before grilling. Or mix it with a little oil and use it as a wet rub. It's absolutely delicious on my favorite Air Fryer Salmon!
It’s fabulous in any number of tagines (stewed dishes), and will lend an exotic flavor to soups as well.
And I love sprinkling it on roasted vegetables.
More Spice Mixes to Make
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Ras el Hanout
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons red chilli powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground allspice
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground orris root
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground mace
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cardamom
- ¾ teaspoon ground fennel seed
- ¾ teaspoon ground anise seed
- ½ teaspoon ground fenugreek
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 bay leaves ground in a spice mill and strained through a fine mesh sieve (about ⅛ + 1/16 teaspoon ground)
- 1 teaspoon dried lavender organic culinary-grade, ground in a spice mill and strained through a fine mesh sieve (about ½ teaspoon ground)
- 1 tablespoon dried rose petals organic culinary-grade, ground in a spice mill and strained through a fine mesh sieve (about 1 ¼ teaspoon ground)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, and store the spice mix in an airtight container in the pantry.
Faith's Tips
- Recipe Yield and Serving Size: This recipe makes about 70 grams of spice mix, which is about ½ cup + 2 tablespoons. For the purposes of nutritional information, each serving is 1 tablespoon for a total of 10 (1-tablespoon) servings.
- Storage: This will stay good for up to 2 years. However, for the best flavor I like to use it within 6 months.
Nutrition
This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on January 17, 2014. I updated it with more information on October 14, 2022.
Mary says
I was so intrigued by this spice blend that I had to hunt down orris root. What does it say about my kitchen that I had all the other ingredients (blush)? I found it at my Amish spice stand at our local farmers market, and made it today! I am experimenting with new recipes with this blend. Thank you for opening my world.
Stef says
Thank you for sharing your ras el hanout blend. I mix all of my own spice blends but it's taken awhile to find a ras el hanout combination that speaks to me. Your combination is what I've been looking for. As soon as a couple of the ingredients arrive, we'll be having fun with a whole new flavor!
Philen - That Indian Food Guy says
Dear Faith,
This is the most comprehensive and well-balanced recipe for Ras el Hanout that I have found outside of Morocco, and certainly the most authentic version on the internet. Your diligence in getting to the Heart of a culture shines through this recipe.
Thank you for being.
Faith says
Philen, Thank you so much for your kind words, that truly means a lot to me.
Michelle says
I lived in Kuwait for many years. Miss the markets, coffee houses, the call to prayer, incredible food, and kind people. Thank you for sharing your recipe. I have all the whole spices on hand, and I will definitely make this.
Riricuisine says
Such a lovely plate full of gaudy spices domes :)
A Canadian Foodie says
I have never seen a recipe with this many ingredients or with some of these ingredients - which, of course, has me captivated. I can't get the root here, I am sure. The photos are stunning.
:)
V
angela@spinachtiger says
Faith, a stunning post, the colors almost transfer to a smell. I've had this spice in a spice shop but I'm sure not as good as yours.
Joanne says
I adore Ras el Hanout and can't wait to try your version of it! The flavor must be so rich.
Khadijah says
Where do you find orris root? I don't think I have ever seen it in the markets in Saudi. Does it go by another name?
Your Ras el Hanout blend looks lovely. The spices are one of my favorite parts about my kitchen too! :)
Faith says
Khadijah, I purchased my orris root on Amazon and brought it with me to Kuwait. I don't know of another name for it, but a larger spice market might have it, particularly a market that carries Moroccan spices...fingers crossed! :)
Kim - Liv Life says
Faith... the colors of the spices are amazing!! I love the range of hues, I can't even begin to identify them all. I'm eager to experiment!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I love all the spice blends that you share in your book. Gorgeous colors!
Eha says
Faith ~ I just have to make yours to a 'T'!!! I normally buy mine from reputable spice shops [like 'Herbies' in Sydney. of which you may have heard] ~ we call them 'top of the shop'!!! Oh, but what a variety to be had ~ I had a very fave spice shop which kind'of 'lost my custom' as their 'ras el hanout' had an awful lot of sweetly saccharine rose water in their mix!! You have both lavender and rose buds: so I really want to see the difference!! [Bye the bye, the ownner of the last firm admitted she had gone a bit crazy with rose!!] Just waiting to make and try!!!!
Alyssa (Everyday Maven) says
I love that little white dish Faith - it's awesome! What is orris root?
Faith says
Alyssa, Orris root comes from the root of a certain kind of iris; once dried, it is super fragrant and smells similar to violets. It's used in herbal medicine, the cosmetics industry, and the food industry. In addition to being a common ingredient in Ras el Hanout, it's also commonly included in gin. Such an interesting ingredient!
Evelyne@cheapethniceatz says
A really great mix. The pics with the spices before mixing is just gorgeous! Only one I do not know is the orris root. Got to research.
Carolyn T says
Gosh, the photos are so beautiful! I usually buy the spice combo, but maybe I'll have to make your version in the future.
sue/the view from great island says
I love this --- I have everything but the orris root!
deana says
Ras el hanout is one of my favorite spice mixes. I love to make lamb loin just rubbed with it and cooked. It perfumes the meat. LOVE your photo!
Julia says
I want to sniff your kitchen! Seriously, I bet your home always smells so lovely with those warm spices filling the air! I'm completely amazed by you, girly! Making your own spice blends is pretty freaking badass if I do say so myself, and I'm all about trying this Moroccan spice. I want to put it in everything!
Rosa says
That is one of my favorite spice blends. I've never made it myself, though...
Cheers,
Rosa