Ingredient challenges: Journey Through North Africa
The majority of the people in North Africa practice the Muslim religion, which means they follow the dietary rules set down by the Koran and its interpreters. While eating pork is forbidden, there are plenty of alternative meats and poultry, and seafood dishes seasoned with great tasting herbs, spices and condiments.
Spice mixes such as Ras el Hanout (a Moroccan spice blend that contains anywhere from 15 to 30 spices such as allspice berries, ground cayenne, cassia bark, cardamom, cut galangal, cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, lavender, turmeric and rosebuds), and curry powder are used quite a bit. However, the exact combination, mixture and quantity of ingredients varies from country to country, and cook to cook. Basic ingredients found in curry powder are chilies, coriander, cumin, ginger, mustard powder, saffron and turmeric.