R

ras el hanout
[raz-el-HAHN-ut]
The exotic Moroccan spice blend that translates as “head of the shop”, indicating this is the spice merchants best. The mixture consists of at least 12 ingredients, but often it has as much as 50! Spices in the mix may include: cumin, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, cayenne, allspice and cloves, to the rarer monk’s pepper, xylopia pods, grains of paradise and rose petals. Depending on the occasion, the mixture may include hashish or aphrodisiacs like the Spanish fly beetle.

ristra
[REES-tra]
A Spanish term referring to a handstrung rope of foods, usually chiles or heads of garlic.

rose water
Sold bottled, the essence distilled from rose petals and used principally to perfume desserts.