8 ways to use Ras El Hanout — Middle Eastern Pantry & Recipes | New York Shuk (2024)

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8 ways to use Ras El Hanout — Middle Eastern Pantry & Recipes | New York Shuk (1)

Ras El Hanout, translating to Head of Shop, is a fragrant spice blend quintessential in Moroccan cooking. We created our Ras El Hanout so it can be the perfect complement to savory and sweet dishes alike. Are you still wondering What is Ras El Hanout? Then this journal post is for you!

Salads

  • Try sprucing up your go-to salad dressing by mixing in Ras El Hanout. This Broccoli Spoon Vinaigrette Salad by Beverly Kim will make even the most avid broccoli hater go back seconds thanks to the flavorful spiced-up vinaigrette.

  • This Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Chickpeas, Feta, and Herbs is one of the most beloved dishes on the menu at Central Provisions, a James Beard Award Best New Restaurant finalist. So, have no doubts - it’s beyond delicious! The recipe is slightly tweaked to accommodate home cooks, but still packs a ton of flavor.

  • Moroccan Carrot Salad, is a staple in Moroccan cuisine, it’s super easy to whip up and requires just a handful of ingredients (literally, just carrots and spices). We also recommend sprinkling Ras El Hanout on a Moroccan Potato Salad to really elevate this simple side dish.

Roasted Vegetables

Roasted Vegetables are the perfect side dish, but the typical salt & pepper combo can make even the brightest veggies feel dull and unexciting. Try out Moroccan Spiced Carrots by Minimalist Baker. Not a fan of carrots? Then sprinkle some Ras El Hanout on cauliflower.

  • We won’t judge if the thought of mung beans and carrots in one dish doesn’t make your mouth salivate or heart pound in excitement. But after making this stunning Roasted Carrots with Mung Beans and Preserved Lemon Yoghurt recipe with Ras El Hanout by Hetty McKinnon, you are bound to fall in love with this combination.

  • Fries! Do we need to say more? Well, except for the fact that after making these fragrant, coated in Ras El Hanout Baked Fries, you will never go back to plain, boring stricks of fried potatoes.

Soups and stews

  • We love soups for many reasons - they’re versatile, easy to put together, and, simply, cozy! The vibrant Marak Katom (Orange Soup) by Leah Koenig is a delicious and satisfying fare in once, made from a variety of orange vegetable (hence the name), topped with tangy yogurt and a dash of Ras El Hanout to serve.

  • Perhaps not as vibrant in color, but bright in flavor is this Roasted cauliflower & coconut soup seasoned with Ras El Hanout to balance out the richness of the coconut.

8 ways to use Ras El Hanout — Middle Eastern Pantry & Recipes | New York Shuk (7)

Grains/Pasta

  • We don’t think we’ve ever encountered a person who doesn’t like pasta. So, we encourage you to set aside your parm and pesto, and let Ras El Hanout do all the heavy lifting, like in this Moroccan Pasta by By Kylie Perotti. It’s super simple, packed with veggies, and, delicious

  • Couscous is a staple grain in Morrocan cuisine, so it’s almost a given that Ras El Hanout pairs perfectly with these little pearls of goodness. In the summer, we love making this Couscous, Cherry Tomato & Herb Salad by Ottolenghi as a simple side dish (or make it a meal by adding some chicken)

8 ways to use Ras El Hanout — Middle Eastern Pantry & Recipes | New York Shuk (8)

Rub for chicken & lamb, other meats

  • The acclaimed chef Marcus Samuelsson adds an unexpected twist to a typical Thanksgiving feast with his Moroccan spiced Turkey recipe. It’s juicy, and tender, and gets its unique flavor from Ras El Hanout and citrus mixture.

  • We love chicken, it’s easily accessible and so simple to prepare on a weeknight. But it can also get quite bland and boring, that’s when we like to spice it up.

    • Ras El Hanout Chicken Pitas recipe by Molly-Yeh is a fun twist on your typical chicken dinner, paired with a refreshing yogurt sauce and cucumbers.

    • Remember the viral baked feta pasta trend? Well, try baked feta with Ras El Hanout Chicken Thighs for a healthy, protein (and flavor)-packed dinner.

    • And, don’t be afraid to play around with known recipes and substitutions. For example, we like to switch up our Chicken Shawarma and Chicken Marinade by adding Ras El Hanout to the mix.

8 ways to use Ras El Hanout — Middle Eastern Pantry & Recipes | New York Shuk (10)

Upgrade your favorite breakfast

Sundays are made for laid-back mornings and delicious breakfast shared with your loved ones. Some of our beloved morning sweets such as french toast, waffles, scones, sweet challah, and even pancakes pair beautifully with Ras El Hanout. For a healthier weekday breakfast, use it in your granola bowl, sprinkled on top of oatmeal or mixed in with overnight oats.

8 ways to use Ras El Hanout — Middle Eastern Pantry & Recipes | New York Shuk (11)

8 ways to use Ras El Hanout — Middle Eastern Pantry & Recipes | New York Shuk (12)

Easy desserts

  • We can’t say no to a Chocolate-Chip cookie, it’s an undeniable classic. Make your cookies even more irresistible by adding Ras El Hanout and oatmeal. For Nutella fanatics out there, we suggest whipping up these Italian Hazelnut Cookies, made of homemade spiced chocolate-hazelnut cream sandwiched between crumbly, melt-in-your cookes.

  • Celebrating a special occasion? Then, obviously, it’s cake time! Give your Carrot Cake a Moroccan Flare with a full tablespoon of Ras El Hanout. For a more laid-back, but equally scrumptious treat try our Choc-Chip Cookie Cake (it’s a cross between a giant cookie, cake, and blondies), or Molly Yeh’s Ras El Hanout Loaf Cake.

  • Have you ever heard of chocolate salami? This fudgy, chocolatey treat requires no baking and is so fun and easy to make!

8 ways to use Ras El Hanout — Middle Eastern Pantry & Recipes | New York Shuk (13)

8 ways to use Ras El Hanout — Middle Eastern Pantry & Recipes | New York Shuk (14)

Beverages

You might be surprised, but Ras El Hanout is a stunning addition to drinks as well! It adds comforting spice to some of our winter favorites like Spiked Hot Cider, Hot Chocolate w/ Ras El Hanout even the Christmas staple, Eggnog. We do recommend trying out Hot Chocolate over ice on a hot summer day. If you’re looking for something more boozy and elegant, you won’t regret mixing up The Dancer. This sophisticated co*cktail requires minimum effort, but will surely impress your party guests.

8 ways to use Ras El Hanout — Middle Eastern Pantry & Recipes | New York Shuk (16)

buy ras el hanout

8 ways to use Ras El Hanout  —  Middle Eastern Pantry & Recipes | New York Shuk (2024)

FAQs

What can you use ras el hanout for? ›

The most traditional ways to use ras el hanout are as a seasoning for stews and tagines, like lamb and chicken, a rub for grilled meats, vegetables and fish, and to add a burst of flavour to couscous, rice and potatoes.

What is the English name for ras el hanout? ›

The literal translation of ras el hanout from Arabic to English is “head of the shop," but in reality, it means "top shelf," both terms implying that this is the very best offering in a spice shop.

What does ras el hanout taste like? ›

Ras el Hanout is woody, pungent, and bitter, but it's also sweet because of the nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. And it's not spicy like you might think – just warm. Because of its strong flavours, it makes a great marinade or spice rub for meats, and it's traditionally used in tajines and stews.

How long does ras el hanout last? ›

Store in a sealed jar for up to six months.

What is the closest spice to ras el hanout? ›

Garam masala resembles the flavor of North African Ras el Hanout because it contains a mixture of cumin, cinnamon, coriander, and cloves, though you may need to add in some cayenne powder to spice it up.

Can I use ras el hanout instead of harissa paste? ›

No, Ras el Hanout is not the same as Harissa. Harissa is a hot chili paste which originated in North Africa, however, the Moroccan version is often made to be more mild than Harissa you'll find in Tunisia or Algeria.

What are the 35 spices in ras el hanout? ›

Some blends have as many as 35 different spices in them, but commonly Ras El Hanout includes paprika, cardamom, cumin, clove, cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg, aniseed, dried ginger, peppercorn and turmeric. Whole spices, dried roots and leaves are ground together.

Is ras el hanout the same as 7 spice? ›

Is ras el hanout the same as Lebanese 7 spice? No, ras el hanout is a Moroccan spice blend that differs from Lebanese 7 spice. Although they have several spices in common, ras el hanout usually has a much lengthier ingredient list and packs in more heat than Lebanese 7 spice.

Is tagine the same as ras el hanout? ›

Ras El-Hanout is a North African medley of fragrant spices that can be used in tagines or as a marinade. Common ingredients include cardamom, cumin, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, dry ginger, chili peppers, coriander seed, peppercorn, sweet and hot paprika, fenugreek, and dry turmeric.

Is garam masala the same as ras el hanout? ›

Ras el hanout, garam masala and curry mixes all have different flavor profiles. While the Indian mixes are more on the savory side of cooking, ras el hanout tends to be floral and sweet.

What does ras el hanout mean in Arabic? ›

Ras el hanout or rass el hanout (Arabic: رأس الحانوت raʾs al-ḥānūt, Arabic pronunciation: [rɑʔs ælħɑːnuːt]) is a spice mix found in varying forms in Maghreb including Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. The name means "head of the shop" in Arabic and implies a mixture of the best spices the seller has to offer.

What does ras el hanout mean in French? ›

Ras el Hanout literally means "head of the shop" in Arabic. This spice mix is an essential ingredient in North African countries. It is also commonly known in France as the "curry powder of the Maghreb”.

What is the difference between yellow and red ras el hanout? ›

Ras El Hanout effectively means the head of the shop. Generally composed for the yellow coriander, turmeric, cumin, grains of paradise, cumin, salt, rosebuds ... and the red: hot pepper, rice flour, salt, sandalwood, coriander, ...

Is ras el hanout like allspice? ›

Literally translated as “head of shop,” the Arabic phrase ras el hanout really means “top shelf.” This version is a vibrant, earthy mix of eight spices (plus salt) including cinnamon, cumin, coriander, allspice, black pepper, and ginger.

What is the difference between baharat and ras el hanout? ›

Baharat vs Ras-el-hanout

Although baharat and ras-el-hanout share similar ingredients like cardamom, coriander, cloves and cinnamon, they do differ slightly. Ras-el-hanout is a Moroccan spice blend which contains a few more spices such as allspice and lavender.

What's the difference between ras el hanout and harissa? ›

Ras el hanout clean label is often confused with harissa. Although it is also used in stews and is composed of various herbs and spices, the taste is noticeably different. There is no ginger or cinnamon in harissa. Also the Indian garam masala is clearly different.

Is ras el hanout the same as Zaatar? ›

Ras el hanout is used for savory dishes, as a meat or fish rub and it's also mixed with rice and couscous. Za'atar – This condiment is made with ground dried thyme, oregano, marjoram or some combination of toasted sesame seeds and salt. It is a generic term for a mixture of Middle Eastern herbs.

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