WHAT IS LEBANESE 7 SPICE?

Every one in a while, you come across a name that is exactly what it says it is.  Lebanese 7 spice is exactly that, as the list of ingredients below suggest.  This is a blend of 7 spices.  But the Beattles were just a blend of 4 musicians, yet what a difference they made!

WHY IS IT CALLED “The Flavor of The Middle East”?

In her book The Middle Eastern Vegetarian Cookbook (review here), Salma Hage writes:

“This is a classic spice-blend recipe that I have been using for many years, but many Lebanese families have their own version of this 7-spice blend. Just a teaspoon of it really lifts so many dishes. For me this seasoning captures the taste of Lebanese food and it is a flavor that I find I miss if I don’t have it for a while, or if I am traveling abroad. It only takes a few minutes to prepare once you have all the ingredients together, and you can scale up the rations to make larger quantities, bought he following recipe provides a good amount to start out with.”

WHAT GOES WITH LEBANESE 7 SPICE SEASONING?

What doesn’t?  Seriously, there are a few herbs and spices that have universal appeal like salt, pepper and unsweetened cocoa powder.  Add Ms. Hage’s Lebanese 7 spice recipe to the list, it is a phenomenal addition to most savory dishes!  It works well not just with Western recipes, but with Eastern dishes as well.