WHAT IS RAS-EL-HANOUT ROYAL SPICE BLEND?

This morning, you have the pleasure to visit the medina of Marrakech. Much more than a sightseeing tour, it is an awakening of your five senses that awaits you there, without you knowing it yet.

You are about to discover its famous souk and all the riches it has to offer. What a pleasure to be able to exchange with the amine of the Souk Hayak, this fabric market which flooded your eyes with shimmering colors, then to have been able to admire the remarkable work of the basket-makers, the potters, to feel moved by touching the leather worked and exposed in the Souk Cherratines, ... On this Friday, day of festival, come to you delicious emanations of tajines and couscous which the women prepare while singing, in honor of this holy day for the Moslems. It's only 10 o'clock in the morning, but you've already worked up an appetite!

Then, you enter the Souk Attarine, the grocers' souk ... Or should I call it "the spice kingdom". Colours and smells take you on a very special ceremony where each spice evokes a dish, an event, a person close to you... From shop to shop, you notice that a spice is always put forward by the merchant: the Ras-el-Hanout. This is not insignificant since, etymologically, "ras-el-hanout" (or "raz-el-hanout") means " head of the grocery store ", that is to say that this blend is made up of the best spices that the owner of this shop has been able to gather.

Like many spice blends, ras-el-hanout (also known as "curry from the Maghreb") is a blend with no fixed rules in its composition. It varies according to regions, families, tastes... According to these parameters, ras-el-hanout can be made up of 7 to 50 different ingredients! This blend is also the festive spice par excellence in the Maghreb since it is honoured during Eid-el-Kebir, Mrouzia in Morocco and Eid-el-Fitr and mourning in Tunisia.

I have chosen to offer you a simplified version of this blend, which allows us to obtain an aromatic palette as complex as it is tasty. The Spice Blend - Ras-el-Hanout Royal is a creation blending the sweetness of turmeric, coriander, caraway and cumin with the roundness and (moderate) spiciness of hot pepper and fenugreek. The whole is enhanced with a slight note of salt, which acts as a natural flavour enhancer to amplify the overall aroma.

HOW TO USE RAS-EL-HANOUT ROYAL SPICE BLEND?

The Ras-el-Hanout Royal Spice Blend is a wonderful blend of sweet, warm and spicy notes. It will transport you easily through the Middle East.

This blend, often referred to as "Curry from the Maghreb", can, like its Indian cousin, be used without restraint in all your dishes, giving them spicy and bewitching flavours, without overwhelming the palate.

It will know how to accommodate and above all sublimate all your dishes of oriental inspiration such as tagines, couscous, and other festive or more common dishes.

The ingredients that make up this blend have the advantage of being perfectly resistant to cooking in order to deliver the quintessence of their flavours and aromatic notes. Thus, you will be able to integrate a teaspoon of this Royal Ras-el-Hanout in the preparation of your simmered dishes as soon as you start cooking them.

But you can also sprinkle it on your other dishes at the end of cooking or even your cold or raw dishes.

In certain regions of Morocco, Ras-el-Hanout is used to give a very special flavour to coffee.

This blend will not finish surprising you as it knows how to marry with different ingredients! Below you will find ideas for delicious recipes to concoct with this blend.

RECIPE IDEAS WITH THE SPICE BLEND ROYAL RAS-EL-HANUT

Whether your meal is of oriental inspiration or not, the Royal Ras-el-Hanout will know how to sublimate each of your salty and sweet preparations. Let it bewitch your recipes to leave your guests with the feeling of having travelled for an evening, thanks to you.

In your savoury recipes :

I can't evoke the Ras-el-Hanout Royal without suggesting that you integrate it into a delicious Couscous kefta and merguez, a Lamb Tajine with apricots, or a wonderful Mrouzia in the style of Chef Alain Ducasse.

You will also be able to sublimate your veal skewers with spices or a delicious Lamb from the Pyrenees with spicy vegetables thanks to this mixture with such atypical flavours.

But the Ras-el-Hanout Royal could perfectly surprise you in other recipes with different inspirations. Don't hesitate to sprinkle some when preparing Pastillas, or on a white fish to fry or to cook in a papillote. Seafood and shellfish will also be deliciously spiced up with this mixture, such as scallops or a fish, lemon and almond tagine in the style of Chef Ducasse.

By seasoning your dishes with vegetables such as Sweet Onions with Grapes and Cornmeal, or a Carrot Gratin with Cumin or a Zucchini Flan au ras-el-hanout, you are guaranteed to enjoy dishes with warm and enchanting flavours. Enough to warm hearts during the winter. It will be an ideal condiment to spice up your pasta, rice or semolina dishes. Vegetable Couscous made up of delicious turnips, carrots and squash, and garnished with dried fruit (grapes, prunes or dates) will delight your guests whose palate is more easily won over by vegetarian dishes.

If the Royal Ras-el-Hanout is ideal in your recipes for simmered or hot dishes, it will also enhance your cold or raw preparations. So, if you sprinkle a teaspoon of Ras-el-Hanout Royal in the preparation of your delicious Hummus or in the fresh cream sauce that will accompany your Cucumber, Tomato, Pepper and Onion Salad, I guarantee you a treat from the other side of the Mediterranean.

Generally speaking, the Ras-el-Hanout Royal Spice Mix allows you to transform your sauces (marinades, sauces for stews, sauces based on fresh cream or coconut milk) into bewitching accompaniments.

For your sweet recipes :

In Morocco, it is very common to taste oriental pastries and fruit with ras-el-hanout

All your pastries made with honey, almond, or dried or candied fruits will transport you to the heart of the medina of Marrakech if you sprinkle them with half a spoon of Ras-el-Hanout Royal. To you the succulent Horns of gazelle, the tasty Loukoums and other Baklawa.