Ras el hanout is the Moroccan spice blend whose name means “top of the shop” and may contain dozens of spices.
The Arabic phrase ras el hanout literally refers to the head or best part of a spice merchant’s selection. Unlike a fixed recipe, ras el hanout varies between merchants, families, and regions. Common ingredients include cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, mace, pepper, and saffron.
The blend is used to season Moroccan tagines, couscous, rice, soups, and meat dishes. Some versions also include dried rosebuds, galangal, or long pepper. This variation means that ras el hanout is not one precisely standardized mixture.
It is often confused with baharat, another Middle Eastern and North African spice blend. Baharat also varies, but ras el hanout is especially associated with Moroccan cuisine and the idea of a merchant’s premium mixture.