7 Spice Recipe From Lebanon - The Foreign Fork (2024)

Published on Feb 15, 2024 Modified: Feb 12, 2024 by Alexandria Drzazgowski. This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Seven Spice is a traditional Lebanese spice mixture that provides amazing flavor to meat, rice, and grilled vegetables. Making your own mix at home is easier than you think!

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Lebanese cuisine is known for using plenty of whole grains, vegetables, seafood, chicken, and lamb. But there is one pantry staple that can be used to provide flavor to it all, and it is a simple mixture of spices called 7 Spice.

Each chef, home cook, and manufacturer has their version of this spice mixture. Some may use different ratios of spices, but the overall goal is a mixture that is aromatic with hints of bitter and sweet flavors.

Not every grocery store in the United States sells a version of 7 Spice, but luckily it is easy to mix up on your own using common spices and keep it on hand for use on meats, vegetables, and even rice.

Recipe Origin

Seven Spice, sometimes called baharat, is a savory spice mix popular in Lebanese cooking. Baharat is the Arabic word for “spices” and may have come from an Indian emperor, Bharata. This spice mixture may have originated in India, as India was a main producer of different spices.

There are slight variations of the mixture from one region or even one household to the next. The overall goal is a mixture that is savory, warm, sweet and just a hint bitter. This Seven Spice Recipe can be used to add flavor to a dish during and after cooking.

Why Make This Recipe

1. Versatile: This spice mixture is a popular rub for meats but can also be used in vegetables, rice, and even soup.
2. Easy to Make: You don’t have to make a special trip to a Middle Eastern grocery store to find this spice blend. You can make your own mix and customize it to your exact liking.
3. Taste of Lebanon: Lebanese cuisine is very aromatic and flavorful, thanks in large part to the use of fresh, warm spices!

What Do You Need to Make This Recipe

Ingredients

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.

You can use ground spices from the grocery store or purchase whole spices and grind your own. Below I’ve compiled a list of what each of the spices are and also another recipe that allows that spice to shine through:

1. Allspice: Allspice is a brown berry from a myrtle tree or pimenta dioica. It was called allspice because when ground it resembles a mixture of several other spices. I also love allspice in this Jamaican Jerk Sauce.
2. Ground Coriander: Coriander is made from the seeds of a cilantro plant. Coriander really shines in this Pakistani Chicken Karahi Recipe.
3. Cinnamon: Cinnamon is popular in sweet dishes in the United States but it is used to bring warmth and complexity to many Lebanese dishes. For another taste of cinnamon, try out this Cinnamon Tea Recipe!
4. Ground Nutmeg: Nutmeg is another spice used in many sweet dishes. It comes from the myristica plant. I love the nutmeg notes in this Stoemp recipe from Belgium.
5. Cumin: Cumin is a very popular spice in the Middle East and is actually part of the parsley family. Cumin is popular in Mexican cuisine but it is used around the world, like in this Jeera Aloo Recipe (Cumin Potatoes) from Bangladesh.
6. Black Pepper: Black pepper adds a hint of spice and warmth to the mixture. It is best when freshly ground. A classic example of black pepper is this Bucatini Cacio e Pepe from Italy.
7. Ground Cloves: Cloves are a very fragrant spice made from flower buds. Cloves are a common addition in this Haitian Seasoning Blend called Haitian Epis.

How to Make This Recipe

Step One: Mix

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl to combine.

Store in an airtight container and use as desired. Enjoy!

Expert Tips:

• There are plenty of variations of this spice mixture. Don’t be afraid to make it your own! If you prefer one flavor profile over another, play around with the ratios slightly.
• If you are using this spice mixture to season meat, you can use one teaspoon per pound of meat.
• Use a funnel to put your mixture in a jar for later storage. It helps a lot!

Can I Make 7 Spices with Six Spices?

Look, there is nothing worse than making big plans to make a recipe, going to your pantry, and realizing you are out of one spice you need! This mixture is great because you really can customize it as much as you like.

If you use it often you will probably notice when one spice is missing. But if you are in a bind, you can leave one out. It may not produce the most authentic recipes, but it will still taste great!

What are Some Ways You Use Seven Spice?

This Baharat spice blend is perfect for a variety of dishes. It is excellent on a chicken dinner, grilled vegetables or, brown rice dishes, or couscous. It’s also great in Lebanese stuffed grape leaves and in many slow-cooker recipes with chicken or beef. You can also use Lebanese 7 Spice in soups, marinades, and salad dressings. It’s also popular in this recipe for Lahm Bi Ajeen from Iraq.

Once you become familiar with the flavor, you can decide which recipes it may bring an extra splash of flavor to.

How Can I Tell if My Spices Are Good Quality?

The highest quality spices will be full of flavor and very fragrant. You will know your spices have lost some of their flavor if you smell the spice powder and don’t get a strong smell.

If you mix this spice blend up fresh, it should be full of flavor that will last for 6-12 months. Store it in a glass spice jar or even a mason jar to keep it fresh.

Did you enjoy this 7 Spice Recipe? If so, make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you:

• Berbere Spice Blend
• Garam Masala
• Spiced Ghee in the Instant Pot