Recipe - Ras El Hanout (Morroccan Spice)

*** NON NE *****

This renowned traditional Moroccan blend of 20 or more spices never fails
to intrigue foreigners. Ras el hanout means "head of the shop". presumably
because the owner mixes the blend to his own taste and to the requirements,
including spending power, of the customer. The blends vary from one region
to another: those from the bazaar in Fez seem to be the most complex. All
contain some aphrodisiacs cantharides (the shiny green Spanish fly
beetle), ash berries and monk's pepper as well as spices and dried
flowers. Ras el hanout is always sold whole and ground as required. It is
considered warming, and is used with game; in rice and couscous stuffings;
in lamb tagines (stews), such as Mrouziya; and in a sweetmeat of almonds,
honey, butter and hashish called el majoun.

A typical blend could include cardamom, mace, galangal, long pepper,
cubebs, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, rose buds, lavender
flowers, Spanish fly beetle, ash berries, grains of paradise, black pepper,
chufa nuts, turneric, cassia, nigella, monk's pepper, belladonna and orris
root.

Source: Jill Norman "The Complete Book of Spices" Viking Studio Books, 1991
ISBN 0670834378 The book is lavishly illustrated with full color
photographs of the herbs and spices whole, mixed, ground.

Recipe by: Jill Norman * Web File 4/97 Posted to MCRecipe Digest V1 #632
by "Mary Spyridakis" MSpork@msn.com on Jun 2, 97