Home Cook Together. Celebrate Life.

LebaneseAuthentic Cuisine

Lebanese Warm Spice Blend

Serves about 1/2 cup Spice Mix vegan, Spice Mixes

Lebanese Warm Spice Blend

In Lebanese kitchens, the warm spice blend is a staple, ready to infuse dishes with its comforting aroma and depth. This blend is a pantry essential, mixed and stored for spontaneous use, whether it's a quiet evening dinner or a festive gathering. It’s as much a part of the Lebanese table as olive oil or fresh herbs, always within arm's reach to elevate the simplest of meals.

The blend is a symphony of cinnamon's warmth, cardamom's citrusy sweetness, and the sharpness of cloves and black pepper, rounded off by sea salt. It's the kind of seasoning that brings a gentle heat and fragrance, perfect for stews, rice dishes, or even a pinch over roasted vegetables, seamlessly uniting various ingredients into a cohesive dish.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbspcinnamon
  • 1 tbspcardamom
  • 1 tspcloves
  • 1 tspblack pepper
  • 1 tspfine sea salt

Method

  1. Begin by setting a small, dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add 2 tablespoons of cinnamon, 1 tablespoon of cardamom, 1 teaspoon of cloves, and 1 teaspoon of black pepper to the skillet. Stir the spices gently with a wooden spoon to ensure even toasting. You will know they are ready when the aroma becomes rich and the spices appear slightly darker in color, which should take about 2 to 3 minutes.
  2. Remove the skillet from the heat and immediately transfer the toasted spices to a cool plate. This stops the cooking process and prevents the spices from burning, which can make them bitter. Allow the spices to cool completely, which should take around 5 minutes.
  3. Once cooled, place the toasted spices into a spice grinder or a mortar and pestle. Add 1 teaspoon of fine sea salt to the mixture. Grind the spices until they are finely ground and well combined, ensuring an even texture throughout the blend.
  4. Transfer the ground spice blend into an airtight container, such as a small glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. This will help preserve the freshness and aroma of the spices.
  5. Store the jar in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry or cupboard, away from direct sunlight. This prevents the spices from losing their potency and flavor over time.
  6. For optimal flavor, use the Lebanese Warm Spice Blend within a few months. Over time, the spices may lose some of their aromatic qualities, so it's best to make smaller batches if you don't use them frequently.
Cover of Authentic Lebanese Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Lebanese Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Lebanese Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Lebanese volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

Explore Lebanese cuisine