The word “baharat” simply means "spice" in Arabic, and it refers to a variety of spice mixtures that are common throughout North Africa and many Middle Eastern countries. Baharat blends vary by region, though most contain several common ingredients like pepper, paprika, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Our version is Turkish-style, which is distinguished mostly by the addition of mint leaves. It has a lovely exotic sweetness, with the flavours of mint, rose, cinnamon and cardamom really standing out through the peppery heat.
Chefs in Turkey use baharat as an all-purpose seasoning for meat and vegetable dishes. It is sometimes also used on the table to spice up meals after cooking. We find this blend especially good with chicken and lamb – just rub some on with a little salt before grilling. You can also make a quick marinade by mixing a tablespoon of baharat with a quarter-cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice and a quarter-cup of olive oil.
Ingredients: black pepper, paprika, cumin, coriander, cloves, mint, rose petals, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom.
