published Jan 22, 2021, updated May 14, 2021 As you travel and dine the local cuisine in countries around the world, you’ll experience unique and flavorful seasonings. Part of the excitement is tasting blends that may not exist in other parts of the world. Lebanese baharat, or more commonly, 7 spice, is a great example of this.
Ingredients in Lebanese 7 spice
Middle-Eastern countries such as Syria, Egypt, and Iraq each have their own unique blend. Even within the borders of Lebanon itself, the seven spices in the blend can vary. Regardless of the country of origin, there are a few individual spices that appear in almost every version of Lebanese seven spice; allspice, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Three of those four spices are in my Lebanese seasoning recipe, as this version doesn’t use cloves.
Allspice– These little berries are often mistaken for being a spice blend. The word allspice doesn’t mean “all spices”, but it does have the flavor of 3 spices; cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg.Cinnamon– While India supplies cinnamon to a good portion of the middle east, archaeologists revealed evidence of 3,000 year old cinnamon in Levant!Fenugreek– This bittersweet spice has an undertone of maple syrup and works really well with coriander, cumin, and red chile powder. If you can’t find the seeds locally, you can purchase fenugreek seeds online (affiliate link). Alternatively, ground fenugreek is a bit easier to source from ethnic food markets.NutmegSea or Kosher saltBlack pepper
If you are fortunate enough to have a local source for the whole spices to grind yourself, by all means, do so! Not only are the flavors of whole spices more vibrant, but in many cases, they also are less expensive than buying them ground. To determine how much of each whole spice you will need, feel free to use my handy chart for converting whole spices to ground.
How to store homemade spice blends
To preserve the freshness of Lebanese 7 spice, or any other homemade spice blend, you’ll need to keep them in an airtight container. In addition to keeping them dry, it is also important to keep fresh spices out of bright sunlight. A cool, dark pantry or spice cabinet is the perfect place to store them. If they’re stored properly, homemade spice blends typically keep well for up to 6 months. Interested in more spice blends? Try my Moroccan Seven Spice Blend, Arabic Baharat, Ras el Hanout and more in my Spice Blend Pantry section!
