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Ras el hanout is a spice blend of North African origin and even though there are a few common ingredients among the different recipes for it, the main rule seems to be that everyone’s ras el hanout is different. I saw lots and lots of different blends, each using different spice combinations and different proportions. So for my mix here I went through my spice cabinet and basically grabbed all my favorites: cardamom, cumin, clove, coriander, peppercorns, fenugreek, fennel seeds and cinnamon.
I ground everything up in my mortar with my pestle (a good right–arm workout) and then mixed it into a yogurt-based marinade that I used for the chicken. It turned out quite tasty, it’s a new and different spin on the traditional Caesar. But you don’t have to stop there, the ras el hanout is quite versatile beyond the salad as well. I’ve used it on roasted vegetables and yesterday I even sprinkled some on my pasta and tomato sauce lunch.
Caesar Salad with Grilled Ras el Hanout Chicken
Ingredients:
For the ras el hanout:
- 1 teaspoon cardamom seeds
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the chicken:
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon ras el hanout
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite–sized cubes
For the salad dressing:
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
- 1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons milk
For the salad:
- romaine lettuce
- grated Parmesan cheese
- chopped chives
Instructions:
For the ras el hanout:
- Grind all ingredients except for the cinnamon in a mortar with a pestle until finely ground.
- Mix in the cinnamon.
For the chicken:
- Whisk yogurt, ras el hanout, salt and lemon juice together in a bowl.
- Mix in the chicken cubes and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
- Shake the marinade off the chicken, then grill on a grill pan on the stove or on a grill (skewer the cubes if using a grill).
For the salad dressing:
- Whisk all ingredients together and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Keep in the fridge until you use it.
For the salad:
- Put lettuce on plates, top with chicken and Parmesan and serve with dressing and a sprinkle of chives.
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I love a good caesar salad and this one looks really great with the marinated chicken! I really like the white background, it makes the bright green of the salad really pop. Take care.
I did like the white here too. Thank you, Stacey! :)
Nicole, that salad looks wonderful and I really like the way you styled it — naturally! It is the way I’d have it on my table. I really think the simplicity of the salad looks perfect. Love it!!
Thank you so much, Marisa! Sometimes it’s best to keep it simple and natural looking. :)