A slew of North African spices combine to make a fragrant, exotic mixture. Whether used as a grill rub, when pan-frying fish or as the foundation for tagine, diverse, distinctive ras el hanout is worth the investment and effort to make.
Note: Though this heady Moroccan spice blend can be purchased at ethnic markets and online at Amazon.com, there's something particularly rewarding about making it from scratch.
Recipe Facts
Ingredients
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One 3-inch cinnamon stick, broken
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1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
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1 tablespoon coriander seeds
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1 teaspoon whole cubeb pepper
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1 tablespoon cumin seeds
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10 green cardamom pods
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1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
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8 whole cloves
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1/2 teaspoon dried anise seeds
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1 teaspoon fresh-grated nutmeg
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1 tablespoon, plus 1/2 teaspoon, sweet paprika, divided use
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1 teaspoon ground ginger
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1 teaspoon ground mace
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1 teaspoon ground turmeric
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1 teaspoon dried rosebud petals
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1 teaspoon lavender
Directions
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Add cinnamon, peppercorns, coriander seeds, cubeb, cumin seeds, cardamom pods, allspice berries, cloves, and anise seed to a dry skillet set to medium-low heat. Lightly toast until fragrant and a shade darker, shaking so spices don’t burn (about two minutes). Cool slightly and remove cardamom seeds from pods by tapping with something heavy, such as a pestle. Discard pods.
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Add remaining ras el hanout spices and toasted spices to a small coffee grinder used only for grinding spices. Pulse the grinder to get things started, and let it run until the mixture is ground into a fine powder. Store in an airtight jar in a dark, cool place until ready to use.
Special equipment
Coffee grinder for spice-use only, pestle
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
9 | Calories |
0g | Fat |
2g | Carbs |
0g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 16 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 9 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 0g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 2mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 2g | 1% |
Dietary Fiber 1g | 3% |
Total Sugars 0g | |
Protein 0g | |
Vitamin C 0mg | 2% |
Calcium 14mg | 1% |
Iron 1mg | 4% |
Potassium 41mg | 1% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |