What is the difference between Zaatar and ras el hanout?

Ras el hanout is used for savory dishes, as a meat or fish rub and it's also mixed with rice and couscous. Za'atar – This condiment is made with ground dried thyme, oregano, marjoram or some combination of toasted sesame seeds and salt. It is a generic term for a mixture of Middle Eastern herbs.

What do you use ras el hanout for?

The most traditional ways to use ras el hanout are as a seasoning for stews and tagines, like lamb and chicken, a rub for grilled meats, vegetables and fish, and to add a burst of flavour to couscous, rice and potatoes .

What is the closest thing to ras el hanout?

Garam masala resembles the flavor of North African Ras el Hanout because it contains a mixture of cumin, cinnamon, coriander, and cloves, though you may need to add in some cayenne powder to spice it up.

What spice can I use instead of ras el hanout?

Authentic Ras El Hanout Recipe While you can have a simple ras el hanout substitute using cumin, coriander, ginger, and cayenne pepper , with just a few more ingredients you'll get a more robust, spice mix that better represents North African cooking.

What is the English name for ras el hanout?

The literal translation of ras el hanout from Arabic to English is “ head of the shop ," but in reality, it means "top shelf," both terms implying that this is the very best offering in a spice shop.

What cheese goes with ras el hanout?

A pinch of floral Ras-el Hanout goes perfectly with the chèvre to make this simple, delicious hors d'oeuvre.

What is the flavor of ras el hanout?

Ras el Hanout is woody, pungent, and bitter, but it's also sweet because of the nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves . And it's not spicy like you might think – just warm. Because of its strong flavours, it makes a great marinade or spice rub for meats, and it's traditionally used in tajines and stews.

What is another name for zaatar?

The plant Zaatar may be referred to as the Middle-Eastern oregano but is locally known as wild thyme, or wild Zaatar . Origanum syriacum, or Zaatar, is native to the Middle East. It is a short shrub of up to 2.5 feet. It is characterized by its small white flowers and very fragrant cottony leaves.

What spices are similar to za atar?

How to Substitute Za'atar. Ground thyme is the most common substitution for the za'atar herb, but other variations on the recipe call for equal-parts mixtures of any number of herbs: thyme, oregano, marjoram, cumin, or coriander .

Is ras el hanout the same as Lebanese 7 Spice?

Is ras el hanout the same as Lebanese 7 spice? No, ras el hanout is a Moroccan spice blend that differs from Lebanese 7 spice. Although they have several spices in common, ras el hanout usually has a much lengthier ingredient list and packs in more heat than Lebanese 7 spice .

Za’atar Ras El Hanout Chicken Spinach dinner recipe

Home » Lunch And Dinner » Za’atar Ras-el-hanout Chicken Spinach Dinner

By Author Hiya, I’m Shashi

Posted on Published: April 4, 2019- Last updated: April 13, 2023

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Middle Eastern herb mix, Za’atar, mingles with Middle Eastern spice mix, Ras El Hanout, in this 7-ingredient, keto, taste-bud tantalizing, and, super easy Za’atar Ras El Hanout Chicken Spinach dinner.

Za’atar Ras El Hanout Chicken Spinach dinner recipe - Savory Spin (1)

My daughter says that she feels like she is on an episode of Guy’s Grocery Games, when she goes shopping with me. I usually have a list and race down only those aisles I need to, then it’s through self-checkout and I’m homeward bound!

However, the other day I had some time to kill, and, found myself wandering down the spice aisle at Walmart. This isn’t a sponsored post, but, in my opinion, Walmart is seriously upping their game when it comes to spices. Their spices might not be as budget-friendly as The Dekalb Farmers Market’s, but the variety is epic! While wandering that spice aisle, I came across bottles of Za’atar & Ras El Hanout.

Za’atar Ras El Hanout Chicken Spinach dinner recipe - Savory Spin (2)

Growing up in the middle east, I was fortunate to have tried a variety of dishes at restaurants flavored with Za’atar or Ras El Hanout.

Since attaining adulthood, I’ve always been curious about experimenting with Za’atar & Ras El Hanout, so, this was my chance!

What is Za’atar?

By the way, Za’atar is a highly aromatic spice mix, usually consisting of sumac, sesame seed and herbs. It is popular in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. Za’atar spiked olive oil is delicious on bread as is za’atar spiked cream cheese.

Za’atar Ras El Hanout Chicken Spinach dinner recipe - Savory Spin (3)

What is Ras El Hanout?

Ras-el-hanout is also highly aromatic and is usually a blend of sweet and savory spices such as cardamom, coriander, fenugreek, cumin, cloves, turmeric and nutmeg, to name a few. Ras El Hanout is quite popular in North African cuisine and delicious as a rub or in stews and soups.

Za’atar Ras El Hanout Chicken Spinach dinner recipe - Savory Spin (4)

I brought home bottles of both and got to experimenting. One night, I baked up some chicken drumsticks – I rubbed a couple of them with Za’atar & another couple with Ras-el-hanout. My daughter ended up LOVING the drumsticks flavored with Za’atar & I loved those with Ras El Hanout.

Well, last night I figured I’d try combining aromatic and inviting Za’atar & Ras El Hanout together in a rub for some chicken things. Now, this isn’t a recipe that requires exact measurements. If you want to add less or more Za’atar or Ras El Hanout or chose to not use your teaspoon or tablespoon to measure these quantities out, go for it!

Za’atar Ras El Hanout Chicken Spinach dinner recipe - Savory Spin (5)

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion
2 tsp Za'atar
1 tsp Ras El Hanout
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
4 boneless chicken thighs
juice of 1/2 lime
1 cup loosely packed spinach
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Mix together the Za'atar, Ras El Hanout, and smoked paprika.
Wash and dry the chicken thighs. Trim any extra fat (if you choose to) and cut each thigh in half so it cooks thoroughly. Then, rub chicken thighs with Za'atar, Ras El Hanout, and smoked paprika mix. (*See Notes for an easy way to do this).
Peel and chop onion.
Add oil to a pan over medium heat and add chopped onion to it. Saute onion for about 10 minutes, stirring often, so it doesn't burn.
Then, add in the rubbed chicken thighs and saute 5-7 minutes on one side, until golden.
Squeeze in the lime juice then flip the chicken and saute another 5-7 minutes.
Add in the spinach and cook a couple more minutes or until spinach is wilted.
Serve warm with rice, naan or roti.

Notes

*If you don't want to get down and dirty and rub the spice mix into the chicken thighs with your hands - you can easily mix the chicken thighs with Za'atar, Ras El Hanout, and smoked paprika by placing all the ingredients in a plastic gallon size bag. Shake well and make sure to distribute the spices around the chicken - makes for mess-free chicken rubbing!

Nutrition Information

Yield 4Serving Size 1 chicken thigh
Amount Per ServingCalories 303Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 137mgSodium 436mgCarbohydrates 13gFiber 2gSugar 9gProtein 29g

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Za’atar Ras El Hanout Chicken Spinach dinner recipe - Savory Spin (2024)