Best Lebanese Seven Spices Recipes

LEBANESE CHICKEN WITH 7-SPICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 F (see notes for grilling)
• Place the chicken in a bowl and toss with olive oil, salt, and 7-spice mix. Add onion, garlic, preserved lemon and sliced lemon and toss again well. Spread out on a parchment-lined sheet-pan.
• Bake for 35-45 minutes- or until cooked through. Broil for a few minutes to get the skin crispy and nicely golden, turning if necessary (especially if using skin-on chicken)
• While the chicken is baking, warm and toast the almonds/pinenuts in a little butter or olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Place the fragrant chicken on a platter, scattering with the onions and lemon slices (which are edible.) Pour any juices from the pan, over top. Garnish with the toasted nuts and sprinkle with a few parsley leaves.

LEBANESE 7 SPICE BLEND (SABAA BAHARAT)

Steps:

• Bloom the spices in a large, dry (no oil) skillet. To do this, break up the cinnamon into smaller pieces and then add all the whole spices to a pan over medium heat and stir constantly until the spices begin to "pop" and smell fragrant (3-5 minutes).Alternatively, you can spread the spices across a baking tray and bake in a preheated oven for 5-7 minutes at 360ºF/180ºC.
• Transfer them to a bowl to cool down slightly.
• Transfer the spice mixture to either an electric coffee/spice grinder OR a high-speed blender (though a larger batch will be needed to work in a blender). Grind into a powder.For a machine-free alternative, you can use a mortar and pestle to manually grind the spices into a powder consistency.
• Sieve the mixture for a fine powder. If you have enough larger pieces remaining, you can re-grind them once more.
• Transfer the spice blend to an airtight glass container. It can help to use a funnel.

LEBANESE SEVEN SPICES

Steps:

• Stir the black pepper, cumin, paprika, coriander, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom together until evenly blended. Store the spice mix in an airtight container.

LEBANESE 7 SPICES

Steps:

• Combine nutmeg, ginger, allspice, fenugreek, pepper, cloves, and cinnamon in an airtight container with a lid. Close and shake to mix spices together. Store in a cool, dark place.

BAHARAT

Steps:

• Place the allspice, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper and nutmeg in a small bowl and stir to combine using a small spoon. Transfer to a glass jar with a tight lid and store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.

LAMB STEAK WITH LEBANESE SPICES

Steps:

• Lay butterflied lamb leg on a cutting board and cut into 4 equal pieces, approximately 6 ounces each. Trim extraneous fat or gristle.
• Place lamb on a baking sheet and season on both sides with salt and the seven-spice powder. Sprinkle meat with sliced garlic and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Rub with your hands to coat, massaging the spices into the lamb. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour, or wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Put yogurt in a mixing bowl and season with salt. Stir in cucumbers, mint, grated garlic and crushed red pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning. Set aside.
• Put a large cast-iron skillet or stovetop grill pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add lamb steaks in one layer and cook for about 5 minutes, until nicely browned. Turn pieces and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more, until juices appear on surface, for medium-rare. Transfer lamb to a cutting board and let rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. (Alternatively, broil lamb or grill over coals.)
• While lamb is resting, put 2 tablespoons olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add chard and 1/4 cup water. Season lightly with salt. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until chard is just wilted. Remove chard from pan with a slotted spoon and transfer to a serving platter or individual plates.
• Carve lamb on the bias in 1/8-inch-thick slices, against the grain, and place next to the chard. Garnish with dill sprigs, if desired, and serve with a spoonful of cucumber-yogurt sauce. Pass the rest of the sauce separately.