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!
Wondering what to make with Ras El Hanout? Here are some tips and ideas to incorporate this versatile spice into your everyday dishes.
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.
Broccoli Spoon Salad With Warm Vinaigrette (Photo By Emma Fishman)
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.
Oven Baked Ras El Hanout Fries (Photo by Tina Dawson)
Roasted Carrots with Mung Beans and
Preserved Lemon Yoghurt (Photo by Hetty McKinnon)
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.
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)
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.
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.
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!
Ras El Hanout Loaf Cake (Photo by Molly Yeh)
Baci di Dama/ Italian Hazelnut Cookies (Photo by Maria Midoes)
