The ras el hanout (or rass el hanout) is a traditional Moroccan spice mix, essential for making tagines, couscous, and pastillas but it is also widely used in western cuisine. It is quite an amazing mix, containing up to 30 ingredients, depending on the tastes and inspiration of the spice maker who concocts it. However some ingredients are essential like cumin, cubeb pepper, ginger, nutmeg, turmeric, cinnamon, fenugreek and green anise.