It fell off the back of a camel
Ras el Hanout’s story goes back centuries to Morocco’s ancient city of Sijilmasa. It’s said that when an argument broke out between two spice traders, it spooked their camels and caused the spice sacks to fall off and split open. Salvaging what they could, the merchants labelled it ‘ras el hanout’ – roughly ‘top of the shop’ – suggesting that the masterful blend showcases the best spices a merchant has to offer.
An enigmatic blend
Gentle and fragrant, garam masala has no singular use and no standard recipe. Blends sold in British supermarkets frequently have a coriander-cumin base and in British-Indian recipes, it’s often added at the point at which onion and garlic are cooked-off. In India, it might contain just ground cloves, cinnamon and…
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The Simple Things (Digital) - 1 Issue, November 2023