Ras el hanout is a spice mixture from Morocco that includes rosebuds, lavender, galangal and cardamom.
The pungent sauce has a real kick from the galangal, a peppery form of ginger.
Common soto spices include shallots, garlic, turmeric, galangal, ginger, coriander, salt, candlenut and pepper.
The plant's rhizomes, the part known as galangal, are thin and tough, and they are the principal reason the plant is cultivated.
Frankincense, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and galangal are all used repeatedly.
Additional spices include garlic, shallot, candlenut, coriander seed, galangal, bay leaves, and teak leaves, the latter giving a reddish brown color to the dish.
The lemongrass stalks need to be thinly sliced and fresh galangal should be diced.
