Here is the most desirable Baharat recipe! It's a fragrant Lebanese 7 spice mix mostly used in Arabic, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern cooking to enhance the taste of curry, soup, stews, kebabs, and sauces. Let's take out 7 spices (coriander, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, and allspice) from the pantry to make this amazing seasoning that can also be used as a condiment.
Although it's an essential pantry spice that will add value to your traditional Levantine cuisine with enhanced taste. Here is the step-by-step method to prepare Baharat spice blend at home within 5 minutes.
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What is Baharat Spice?
In Arabic, the spice is known as Baharat. It’s a combination of 7 spices in the form of a powder that is widely used in Middle Eastern, Lebanese, Mediterranean, and North African cuisine.
Every country has their own way to make the spice mix like Indian/Pakistani Garam Masala, curry powder is famous all around the world. In the same way, Thai seasoning, Japanese, and Chinese 5 spices are famous to make world famous cuisine.
Baharat spice blend makes a flavorful combination to use in a variety of recipes. I love to use it as these 7 spices not only add taste but also help to develop a delectable aroma before serving. It can be easily used to make vegetables, stews, kebabs, and meat with a signature 'Arabic' flavor.
Different regions have used Baharat seasoning so many people know it with different name according to their regional naming convention like Arabic 7 spice, Lebanese 7 spice, Baharat spice mix, middle eastern 7 spice mix and Levantine 7-spice.
Why Does This Recipe Work?
- It’s a multi-purpose blend of spices that can be used in a variety of recipes.
- You can easily store it in your pantry for 6 months without any preservatives.
- It hardly takes 5 minutes to prepare at home and has a long shelf life.
- Suitable for all types of taste buds. The smoky and tangy taste of this levantine mix will give more flavor to your dishes.
- You can easily find these seven spice ingredients in your pantry.
- Sprinkle on hummus and baba ganoush to add more twist in flavor.
Ingredients
All these 7 spices in Baharat makes a perfect seasoning for your next meal!
Allspice: It's a fine powder of dried berries taken from Pimenta dioica which is a form of plant. It's sweet, smoky, earthy and have strong pungent flavor. One of the main ingredient to make this 7 spice blend.
Coriander: The citrus and earth flavor of coriander powder will add more value to 7 spice.
Cumin: preferred to take cumin powder as it's easy. If you have cumin seeds at home, roast it in skillet and grind it to make fine powder.
Cinnamon: It will add a perfect sweet, little tangy and wooden flavor in spice.
Black Pepper: It's preferred to use freshly ground black pepper as it contains strong aroma and freshness of peppercorns.
Cloves: It's sweet, litter bitter and astringent in flavor. Use wisely to add warmth in spice blend.
Nutmeg: Pairing of nutmeg with other spices makes a perfect flavor. Use powder or if you have whole nutmeg then break the shell and use the inner part. It's best to grate or grind it accordingly.
How To Make Baharat Spice
Make it with Powdered Spices
- Arrange all the 7 spice ingredients (coriander, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper and allspice) in powder form and mix it well to form a one tone spice. Store it for 6 months in air tight glass container in your pantry.
Prepare With Whole Spices
- In a preheated skillet, toast the coriander, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper and all spice. (Avoid to toast the nutmeg). As it become fragrant turn off heat and let it cool down.
- Transfer all the toasted whole spices in a grinder including nutmeg and grind it to make a fine powder.
- Immediately store in airtight container to settle the aroma of spices.
If you have whole spices at home then grind it all together to get the fine powder. Voila! use it in your favorite recipe as it will help to enhance the taste of curry, stew, kebabs, and soups.
Pro Tips
- To create the authentic flavor of this spice, use whole spices and grind it yourself. It will make a big difference in taste.
- In this recipe, I used powdered spices. All spices are ground at home to meet the real flavor.
- Always follow the right proportion of ingredients to get the perfect flavor.
- Carefully add in your recipe as it has a strong flavor.
- Avoid using the wet spoon in a container to avoid bacteria.
- If your pantry temperature is above 30°C or 86°F then keep it in the refrigerator.
How to Use Baharat 7 Spice Seasoning
- Perfect to use in recipe marinade
- Best to use as a dry rub to cook chicken, salmon, and red meat.
- Sprinkle as a flavoring agent.
- Best to use in curry, kaboob, gravy recipes, baking dishes. I love to use as condiment and flavoring ingredient in warm comforting soup and stews.
- Here is the recipe of Chicken Mandi, Maqluba, and Kabsa (Machboos).
- In winter, many people also use to make Karak Chai with spiced flavor.
- I love this recipe using Baharat spice.
Storage Idea
Store the Baharat spice mix in an airtight glass container, or jar and keep it in your pantry to use within 6 months. Make sure the pantry temperature should be within or under 25°C as the excessive heat will shorten the shelf life of pantry staples. If you think the temperature is high than keep it in refrigerator.
Always use dry spoon and cover the container/jar right after the use.
Avoid to store for longer period as there is no preservative. Check the earthy, sweet and savory fragrance before use. Discard in case of finding fungus or stale particles.
Q & A
It’s feels like a tangy, earthy and smoky spice blend with a flavorful and distinct spice aroma.
It depends upon recipe requirements and quantity. It has strong empowering taste so add in moderation. 1 teaspoon Baharat spice is enough for 500 g chicken curry, stew, or in marinade.
Yes, it's same! Baharat is the Arabic name of 7 spice.
More or less the both are same and use in different style of cooking. Indian garam masala is spicier and comes with roasted flavor of spices. Baharat is the blend of 7 spices mostly used in Arabic cooking.
All the 7 spice ingredients are 100% vegan and gluten free.
Well, the combination of Baharat 7 spices add a savory, tangy, nutty, little sweet, woody and earthy flavor in dishes. The warm aroma of spices makes it so tempting for everyone to give a try.
1 tablespoon = 5kcal
Other Seasoning Ideas
Baharat Recipe - 7 Spice Mix
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon Allspice
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cloves
- 1 ½ teaspoons cumin powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground nutmeg
Instructions
Make it with Powdered Spices
- Arrange all the 7 spice ingredients (coriander, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper and allspice) in powder form and mix it well to form a one-tone spice.
- Store it for 6 months in air tight glass container in your pantry.
Prepare With Whole Spices
- In a preheated skillet, toast the coriander, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, and all spice. (Avoid to toast the nutmeg). As it becomes fragrant turn off heat and let it cool down.
- Transfer all the toasted whole spices in a grinder including nutmeg and grind it to make a fine powder.
- Immediately store in an airtight container to settle the aroma of spices.
Notes
- To create the authentic flavor of this spice, use whole spices and grind it yourself. It will make a big difference in taste.
- In this recipe, I used powdered spices. All spices are ground at home to meet the real flavor.
- Always follow the right proportion of ingredients to get the perfect flavor.
- Carefully add in your recipe as it has a strong flavor.
- Avoid using the wet spoon in a container to avoid bacteria.
- If your pantry temperature is above 30°C or 86°F then keep it in the refrigerator.
Hinz
Do you make 7 spice at home? Here is my way to store it in my pantry.