What is a Hanout? Understanding the Unique Spice Blend from North Africa
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “what is a hanout,” join the club. Hanout, or ideally ras el hanout, a famous North African spice blend — most often Moroccan. But what is a hanout, really? It’s a complicated mixture of spices — the term means “head of the shop,” implying that it is the best spice a spice seller has to sell.
So, what is a hanout made of? It often has cardamom, cumin, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace and allspice plus dried ginger and chili peppers. Unlike standard American spice blends, there is no one-size-fits-all for hanout; it varies by maker and brings unique flavors to tagines, meats and vegetables.