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All Purpose Lebanese Spice Blend

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This fragrant All Purpose Lebanese Spice Blend is the secret to irresistible grilled meats, soups, roasts and other Middle Eastern specialties.
As a busy mother of two young boys under the age of 3, I have become a bit of a master in turning my family’s traditional Middle Eastern recipes into quick and easy weeknight dishes. In fact, I often joke that I am in favor of anything that helps me get dinner on the table before the meltdown train leaves the station.

For example, my mother and aunts have been preparing traditional Lebanese Green Beans and Beef for years but I was the first to turn it into a hands-off slow cooker dish. I promise it’s just as good as the classic because my family would be the first to tell me if it wasn’t, trust me on that one.

To help kick off McCormick’s American Homemade Program, I decided to create a simple, 5 ingredient All Purpose Lebanese Spice Blend made with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt and pepper. Here is my video showing just how easy it is to prepare:

It couldn’t be any easier to make and the versatility is astounding. I love making it in bulk, stashing it in the pantry and grabbing it whenever I am craving Lebanese food.

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We love using this spice blend to flavor Hushwee (Ground Beef with Toasted Pine Nuts), Sfeehas (Lebanese Meat Pies), Grilled Kafta Patties, Beef or Chicken Shawarma and so much more. Try it in Lamb Dumplings in Garlic Yogurt Sauce or Kibbeh Meatballs with Spice Yogurt Sauce.

The options are endless. Your fork is waiting.

All Purpose Lebanese Spice Blend

This flavorful All Purpose Lebanese Spice Blend is the secret to irresistible grilled meats, soups, roasts and other Middle Eastern specialties.
4.54 from 15 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Lebanese, middle eastern
Keyword: condiment, spice blend
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 8kcal
Author: Liz DellaCroce

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon Pure Ground Black Pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon Ground Allspice

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container until you're ready to use.

Video

Notes

Recipe is designed for one pound of meat.
Recipe can easy be doubled, tripled or even multiplied by ten.
Spice blend will keep for up to six months stored in an air-tight container at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
All Purpose Lebanese Spice Blend
Amount Per Serving (1 teaspoon)
Calories 8 Calories from Fat 2
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.2g 0%
Saturated Fat 0.2g 1%
Sodium 846mg 35%
Total Carbohydrates 1.9g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1.2g 5%
Sugars 0.2g
Protein 0.1g 0%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @thelemonbowl

What are your favorite flavors and spices to use in the kitchen? Ginger? Rosemary? Lavender? Vanilla? Visit McCormick to create your very own personalized FlavorPrint profile!

Disclaimer: I have been compensated for my time to develop this recipe and create this video on behalf of McCormick’s American Homemade program, in conjunction with Kitchen PLAY. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Lemon Bowl possible. As always, all thoughts are 100% my own.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hello, there is something else in that spice blend that is not listed — I see it in the photo. It looks like sesame seeds…is that Zaatar?

    Reply


  2. Just discovered your blog and I’m happy to find another Lebanese cook. This is a great idea! I love cooking Lebbo (my father’s side is Lebanese) and you pretty much always use the same spices, so why not blend them?

    Reply


  3. There is a little Lebanese restaurant about 15 miles from our house. It is run by an older Lebanese man and his sons. Small little hole in the wall type of place but my gosh do they have the best gyros and gyro bowls as they call them. We love this restaurant and their food but one of our hobbies (Wife and I) is to try to copy good food at home. Your ALL PURPOSE LEBANESE SPICE BLEND pushed our homemade version over the top! I almost saved some of the roasted zucchini, onions, yellow rice, and tzatziki sauce to have him try our attempt at his food! It was THAT good thanks to your spice recipe. Nothing beats learning to cook from the grandma’s.

    If you are ever in the Sylvania Ohio area stop by Pita Sub Express. You won’t be sorry.

    Reply

  9. This spice blend sounds wonderful. It reminds me of the Lebanese boyfriend I had many years ago who introduced me to some of the most important foods of the world: string cheese, tahini, hummus and pita bread. The flavors I grew up with were Hungarian (especially sweet paprika), but those no longer call to me. My favorite flavors come from Indonesia, southeast Asia, Greece, the Middle East, Mexico and South America. There are not enough days left in my life for all the wonderful flavors out there. I will definitely be putting this spice blend together.

    Reply

  11. Of course I love this post! It is so fun to see you talk about your Middle Eastern roots and your Mom, Grandma and Aunt and how they inspire you. I can totally relate. I am saving this spice blend–can’t wait to try it out! It would be perfect in Lebanese Green Beans!

    Reply

  16. First of all, I loved your video. You are a natural behind the camera! But secondly…. I love your Lebanese spice blend. Can you believe I’ve never had Lebanese food before? Time to make a batch of your spice blend and make something delicious!

    Reply


  21. Hi Liz, thanks for the great recipes! For me too, it always comes back to Lebanese food. My mother was a chef & pastry chef. She can make just about anything and it’s always amazing. Although she brought us up eating foods from all different cuisines, she’s 100% Lebanese and it was always those foods that were really special to me. Luckily, she is a great teacher and has been very generous with her time, patience, and recipes with me, so that now, I’m a pretty good cook, too. We use a few different words for our dishes than you do, but the recipes are pretty similar. So, thank you again! I love your blog!

    Reply

    • Wow that is such a great story Sara! That is so amazing that your mom was a pastry chef! Thank you so much for sharing. :) And thank you for your sweet words on the blog – let me know if you try any recipes!

      Reply

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