Baharat

ba-ha-RAAHT

Sweet and warm, the alluring taste of Baharat seasoning combines the classic flavors of the early spice trade into one timeless blend. Baharat gets a touch of heat and citrus from black pepper, smoky earthiness from cumin, and the comforting woodsiness of cinnamon. Clove delivers woodsiness, too, with its trademark tingle, and nutmeg is predictably uplifting and nutty. Cardamom and coriander add bright freshness to the blend; coriander weaves in peppery and herbaceous citrus, while cardamom adds a lemony snap and a minty back note. Our Baharat spice mix is blended in small batches in our facility, so we can ensure freshness and flavor in the products we send to our customers.

Baharat, a classic Mediterranean spice blend whose origins have been lost to time, simply means “spices”. Bahar is the singular Arabic word for “spice”; Baharat is the plural construction. This blend was so named because it became ubiquitous to the cultures ringing the Mediterranean, from the Levant to northern Africa. Every region has its preferred blend; Turkey often includes mint in their blends, while rose petals make their way into blends in Egypt. This blend is associated with the Mediterranean, it can be found in use in surprising places. When Federal Donuts, a lunch counter and donut shop with multiple locations across Philadelphia, released its master donut recipe, we learned that Baharat is the signature spice that’s defined their donuts since they first opened in 2011.

Tips From Our Kitchen

Use Baharat on ground meat, especially lamb. Blend a tablespoon of Baharat into a pound of ground lamb, press around skewers to make kebabs, and grill. Serve with yogurt or tahini and a squirt of fresh lemon. This would also be wonderful with ground beef. To marinate chicken breasts with Baharat, combine Baharat with lemon juice and olive oil. Allow the meat to sit in the marinade for 2 or 3 hours. Use this blend as a rub on fish, particularly white fish like cod; because fish tends to be delicate, just rub Baharat on with no marinade. Mix Baharat with olive oil for a bread dipping sauce, or drizzle this oil over feta cheese and serve with toasted pita. Toss over chickpeas and roast for chana. Add to couscous or pilaf.

Our traditional Baharat spice mix is blended with paprika, black pepper, cumin, coriander, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom.

Hungry for more information?

Living the Mediterranean Diet
Middle Eastern Spices and Seasonings
Moroccan Spices and Dishes
Baharat: The Ingredient Giving Arab Food Its Distinct Flavor