Ras el hanout

This spice blend varies greatly, so I have recorded several that I found on line. In any recipes I have on my site, when I reference this spice I will indicate which version of the blend I used.

Ras el hanout

Moroccan spice blend

1. Stonesoup recommends:

  • 1 T paprika
  • 1 T coriander
  • 1 T ginger
  • pinch of saffron

2. Epicurious + Bon Appetit both recommend this blend:

  • 1-1/2 t coriander seeds (grind them)
  • 3/4 t cumin seeds (grind them)
  • 1/2 t crushed red pepper flakes (grind)
  • 1-1/4 t ground cinnamon
  • 1 t paprika
  • 1/2 t ground cardamom
  • 1/2 t ground ginger
  • 1/2 t ground turmeric

3. SpruceEats lists this blend

  • 2 t ground ginger
  • 2 t ground cardamon
  • 2 t ground mace
  • 1 t ground cinnamon
  • 1 t ground allspice
  • 1 t ground coriander seeds
  • 1 t ground nutmeg
  • 1 t turmeric
  • 1/2 t ground black pepper
  • 1/2 t ground white pepper
  • 1/2 t ground cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 t ground anise seeds
  • 1/4 t ground cloves

4. The Most Authentic Blend I could find

  • 100 g turmeric root
  • 70 g ginger root
  • 15 g galanga root
  • 20 g white peppercorns
  • 20 g black peppercorns
  • 20 g whole long pepper
  • 20 g allspice berries
  • 20 g cubeb berries
  • 30 g cardamom pods
  • 60 g cinnamon bark
  • 15 g whole cloves
  • 15 g whole mace
  • 15 g guinea pepper berries
  • 15 g ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior fruit)
  • 15 g​ nigella seeds
  • 15 g dried rose petals
  • 20 g caraway seeds
  • 15 g anise seeds
  • 15 g star anise
  • 15 g fennel seeds
  • 3 dried nutmeg flowers
  • 3 large dried caper berries

This is a Moroccan – Tunsian – Algerian spice blend that has a very long list of ingredients. (1) This mix is very individualistic and is supposed to represent a mixture of the very best spices a given spice-vendor has on hand.

If you cook a lot of foods from these areas then you need this mix on hand. However, I would probably buy this from a vendor, or use the smallest mix possible, as it would be costly to buy each of these spices individually and mix to the taste you want.

Here are some substitutes and mixes to use that are from simple to complex (or approximations to the real deal).