• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Hilda's Kitchen Blog

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Book
  • About
  • Resources
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Book
    • About
    • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    • Recipes
    • Book
    • About
    • Subscribe

    You Are Here Home » Spice and Seasoning Recipes

    Published: Jul 11, 2019 Updated: Oct 21, 2022 by Hilda Sterner | This post may contain affiliate links 4 Comments

    Baharat Recipe (Middle Eastern Spice Mix)

    Sharing is caring!

    666 shares
    • Share42
    • Yummly
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    baharat spices in spoons

    Baharat is a Middle Eastern spice blend used throughout the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. This Baharat recipe is similar to Indian Garam Masala or Biryani Spice. It is made with an array of aromatic spices that are sure to enhance your dishes!

    baharat spice blend in spoons on counter

    Although you can purchase Baharat pre-made, there's nothing like making it yourself. For best results, be sure to use fresh spices when making this Baharat Seasoning.

    🧐Why This Recipe Works

    • Making your own spices is 100x better than using spices that have been sitting on the shelf for who knows how long...
    • Most of the ingredients in bahart spices are everyday ingredients tha most cooks already have in their kitchen or can be easily purchased.
    • Prepare the bahart spice mix ahead of time and store in an air-tight container or there cute spice bottles for when you want to try your hand at some Middle Eastern recipes!

    🛒 What You Need For This Recipe

    baharat ingredients, labelled

    🔖 Ingredient Notes

    When making any spice blend, always start with fresh, whole spices. The end result will be way more flavorful!

    • Black Peppercorns: Use whole fresh black peppercorns.
    • Allspice: Contrary to popular belief, allspice is not made with a bunch of spices but is actually a berry. You can find whole allspice berries in most ethnic markets or on Amazon.
    • Cardamom: Cardamom comes ground into a powder or you can actually buy the pods and grind them yourself. You may need to sift the ground cardamom to remove some of the shell.
    • Cinnamon: You'll need to add one cinnamon stick to the spice blend. Breaking the stick up into pieces helps with grinding it into a powder.
    • Nutmeg: Whole nutmeg is amazing and so much better than the powdered nutmeg. Using a microplane to grind the nutmeg is your best bet.
    • Paprika: Use regular paprika instead of smoked paprika.
    • Cumin: Be sure to use cumin seeds instead of powder.
    • Coriander: Coriander seeds are amazing when toasted and ground. If you think you don't have any, check your seed packs (if you have a garden). Coriander seeds produce cilantro so you may have coriander and not even know it!
    • Cloves: Use whole cloves instead of powder.
    • Cayenne: Cayenne pepper is optional. I grind dried chiles but you can use cayenne powder if you need to.

    🧂How to Make Baharat Spice Blend

    STEP 1: Add whole black peppercorns, cumin seeds, cardamom pods, allspice berries, coriander seeds, whole cloves, whole nutmeg, chili peppers, and a cinnamon stick to a hot cast-iron pan. Toast until aromatic.

    jerk chicken

    STEP 2: Allow spices to cool before handling. Remove nutmeg, and grate separately using a microplane. Grind the remaining spices into a fine powder either by hand with a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder.

    spices ground in a mill

    Pro Tip: You may need to grind the spices in batches.

    STEP 4: Mix all the spices together then store the baharat spice in an airtight container for up to a year.

    baharat spice blend in a jar

    🤷🏻‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

    What is Baharat made of?

    The Turkish word "Baharat" means "spices." Additionally, it is also referred to as "Middle Eastern 7 spice."

    There are no two Baharat recipes that are exactly the same. Everyone seems to have their own spice blend. However, there are some spices that are almost always found in most Baharat recipes.

    Main Baharat recipe Ingredients
    black pepper
    cumin
    coriander
    cardamom
    cloves
    nutmeg
    cinnamon

    Additional Baharat Ingredients
    allspice
    paprika
    ginger
    chili powder
    cayenne
    turmeric
    saffron

    spoons with spices in them

    What Can You Substitute for Baharat?

    Since Baharat is a blend of many spices, it's hard to pick just one spice to replace it. However, a similar spice, known as "Ras el hanout," would be a great substitute.

    Ras el hanout usually contains the same spices as Baharat, along with ginger, mace, and fenugreek.

    You can also use Biryani Spice recipe, which has a lot of the same spices.

    Another option is to use any of the following spices that you have on hand: black pepper, allspice, paprika, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, and chili.

    However, make sure you keep the same proportions used in this recipe. If you're making a batch, make note of the spices omitted, so that you can purchase and add them to the Baharat spice mix at a later time.

    Are Baharat and Allspice the Same?


    Baharat and allspice are not the same. Allspice is a berry, and the name all spice does not imply a mixture of spices. Allspice berries are usually ground into a powder and commonly used in Middle Eastern recipes.

    Baharat, on the other hand, is a Middle Eastern spice blend tha contains allspice along with other spices including cloves, cardamom, black peppercorns, and cinnamon.

    allspice berries on a white surface

    🍵 How to use Baharat Spice Mix In Recipes

    Baharat can be used to season meat, chicken, lamb, and fish. It is also used to flavor soups and marinades. However, my favorite way to use it is in Chicken Biryani (Spicy yellow rice, loaded with shredded chicken, meatballs, potatoes, and onions).

    You can also add baharat spices to dry rub or to season the meat filling in Assyrian Egg Rolls (Bourak), and in Kubba filling.

    Another great way to use baharat is in sauces, stews, or to season Beef Kafta.

    baharat spices in spoons

    If you enjoy making your own spices and seasonings, you may be interested in learning how to make your own Corned Beef Spice Blend, Biryani Spice, Pork Rub, and DIY Shawarma Seasoning Blend.

    👩🏼‍🍳 Pro Tips

    • If you don't have a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder, a coffee grinder works just as well!
    • Always start with fresh spices and toss out any spices over a year old.
    • I prefer to make smaller batches of baharat spice mix so that it's fresh. If you do make a larger batch, consider freezing the extra to retain the freshness.

    🫙Related Recipes

    • nigella seeds sprinkled on toast with cream cheese spread and pomegranate seeds
      What Can I Use As A Nigella Seed Substitute? 
    • pork rub in a jar
      Pork Rub For Pulled Pork and Ribs
    • Dukkah Spice Egyptian Recipe
    • zaatar in a bowl
      Za'atar Substitute Spice Blend

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    📖 Recipe

    baharat seasoning in spoons

    Middle Eastern Baharat Spice Blend

    A must in Middle Eastern cooking, bahart is a spice mix used in many recipes.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Condiments, Other
    Cuisine: Assyrian, Indian, Middle Eastern
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 7 servings
    Calories: 18kcal
    Author: Hilda Sterner

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon cumin
    • 1 tablespoon coriander
    • 1 tablespoon paprika
    • 1 tablespoon allspice
    • 1½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1½ teaspoon cardamom
    • 1 teaspoon cloves
    • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
    • ½ to 1 teaspoon cayenne or chili powder

    Instructions

    • Add whole black peppercorns, cumin seeds, cardamom pods, allspice berries, coriander seeds, whole cloves, whole nutmeg, chili peppers, and a cinnamon stick to a hot cast-iron pan. Toast until aromatic.
    •  Allow spices to cool before handling. Remove nutmeg, and grate separately using a Microplane. Grind the remaining spices into a fine powder either by hand with a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder.
    • Mix all the spices together then store the baharat spice in an airtight container for up to a year.

    Notes

    • If you don't have a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder, a coffee grinder works just as well!
    • You may need to grind the spices in a few batches.
    • Always start with fresh spices and toss out any spices over a year old.
    • I prefer to make smaller batches of baharat spice mix so that it's fresh. If you do make a larger batch, consider freezing the extra to retain the freshness.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 18kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 11mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0g
    Tried this Recipe? Please leave A Star Rating!Mention @HildasKitchenBlog or tag #HildasKitchenBlog!

    More Spice and Seasoning Recipes

    • carne asada seasoning in a spoon over a jar of seasoning
      Mexican Carne Asada Seasoning
    • fresh potted basil viewed from above
      How To Dry Basil Leaves
    • seasoning in a white bowl
      Flavor Packed Coffee Rub Recipe
    • sumac substitute ingredients
      The Best Sumac Substitute Option

    Sharing is caring!

    666 shares
    • Share42
    • Yummly
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




       

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Vicki says

      March 17, 2023 at 10:40 am

      Does baharat sometimes include sugar?

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        March 17, 2023 at 10:44 am

        Hi Vicki, I've never seen it with sugar but that doesn't mean you can't add a pinch or 2 if you'd like!🙂

        Reply
    2. Linda Blume says

      January 24, 2020 at 7:19 am

      IF using a pound of beef or lamb how much of the spice would you add?

      Reply
      • HildaSterner says

        January 24, 2020 at 7:54 am

        Hi Linda,
        It really depends on the recipe. Unlike salt (I always add 1 teaspoon to 1 pound of meat), a recipe might call for 1/2 teaspoon baharat or more. It just depends on what you're preparing. Are there other ingredients in the dish you're preparing? If you're mixing it in with ground meat and making kabobs, for example, I'd probably add anywhere from 1/2 to 1 teaspoon. I always start with a small amount when using a new spice to see how I like it before adding more. When making kabobs, you can pinch off a small portion of the seasoned meat and fry it in a pan to see if you're satisfied with the taste. If not, you can add more. You can always add more, but can't take it out once it's in, right? Hopefully, that makes sense?

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    profile photo-Hilda

    Hi, I'm Hilda! I'm the creator of Hilda's Kitchen Blog, author of Mom's Authentic Assyrian Recipes, and a recipe contributor to Brian Baumgartner's Seriously Good Chili Cookbook (AKA Kevin Malone, from The Office).

    Are you looking for a little inspiration in the kitchen? Let me show you how to use unique ingredients to make tasty meals for your family! more about me →

    Get My Cookbook!

    cook book on a wooden board

    Easter Recipes

    • easter round up main photo
      35 Tasty Easter Recipe Ideas
    • a slice of carrot cake on a white plate
      Carrot Cake with Pineapple
    • kileche under a Christmas tree
      Kileche | Kleicha (Assyrian Holiday Cookies)
    • roasted carrots
      Parmesan Roasted Rainbow Carrots
    • healthy deviled eggs on a blue plate
      Healthy Keto Deviled Eggs
    • birds nests on a plate
      Bird Nest Recipe (Osh El Bulbul) Baklava

    Check Out My Etsy Shop!

    montana healing salves logo

    Popular Recipes

    • Katiafi pastry
      How to Make Kataifi Pastry from scratch!
    • smoked Tri Tip being sliced
      Traeger Smoked Tri-Tip
    • smoked turkey breast on the grill
      Traeger Smoked Turkey Breast
    • tri tip sandwiches featured image
      Tri-Tip Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions
    • orange powder in a jar with oranges around it
      Drying Orange Peels and How to Use Them
    • jiffy cornbread with creamed corn in a cast iron pan with a slice removed
      Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn

    Featured On

    featured on

    Subscribe to Get my Latest Recipes!

    Privacy Policy

    Stay Connected

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • My Etsy Shop

    Policies

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Photo & Content Sharing Policy

    LET'S CONNECT!

    • Contact Page
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage from qualifying Amazon purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 • Hildas Kitchen Blog • All rights reserved