Moroccan

Chicken in Ras el Hanout

January 13, 2018
Main-Course, Mediterranean
Chicken, Moroccan, Ras-El-Hanout

Ras el Hanout! رَأْسُ الحانُوتِ (raʾsu al-ḥānūti) literally means:

  • “head” or “top” — رَأْس (raʾs)
  • “the shop” — الحانُوت (al-ḥānūt)

So رَأْسُ الحانُوتِ translates to “head of the shop”, and figuratively it means “the best (or top) of what the shop has to offer” — usually referring to a premium spice mix made by spice vendors in the Maghreb (especially Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria). It’s used in Moroccan tagines, grilled meats, rice dishes, and even some desserts. Each vendor often has their own unique recipe, which can include dozens of spices