The Hidden Secret of Authentic Moroccan Spices

Have you ever tasted tagine or tangia and wondered what secret or magic is added to these dishes that keeps you coming back for more, bite after bite, until the dish is finished? Don’t worry; today, I’m here to unveil the greatest secret of Moroccan cuisine, passed down through generations. The magic that our mothers add to most of our dishes is none other than spices or “attria” in Moroccan dialect. Today, we will take a quick tour around these spices to discover their ingredients and unveil the mystery behind them, and to reveal the magic of Moroccan cuisine.

Ras-el-Hanout

Ras-el-Hanout, literally meaning “head of the shop,” is one of the most important and complex spices in Moroccan cuisine. It’s not actually the head of the shop, I’m just kidding. Ras-el-Hanout consists of more than ten spices, including cinnamon, turmeric, chili pepper, nutmeg, and others. You might wonder why all this trouble? Why not use each spice separately? Why mix them into something as complex as Ras-el-Hanout, which is difficult to obtain, especially outside Morocco? That’s a good question. But let me ask you this: if pizza is just bread, cheese, meat, and spices, why don’t we eat each ingredient separately? I think the idea is clear now and doesn’t need further explanation.

Turmeric

It’s often said that the eye eats too. Before we feed our stomachs, we feed our eyes. The more appealing the dish looks, the more eager you are to taste it. This is where turmeric comes in, known in Moroccan dialect as “kharkoum.” The golden and inviting sheen in Moroccan dishes comes from turmeric, also known as golden saffron.

Cumin

Who doesn’t know cumin? This amazing ingredient with its enchanting aroma takes you by the hand to barbecues with family and friends, to that warm morning when your mother hands you a boiled egg covered in it, inviting you to dive into its magic. In Moroccan cuisine, cumin is one of the most famous spices used in everyday life. Besides its wonderful aroma, it adds a strong flavor to Moroccan dishes.

.