This famous cooking ingredient and condiment from Middle Eastern cuisine calls for merry-making in many delicious recipes. But, what would you use if you ever run out of it? So, here we share our ultimate list of the best Baharat spice mix alternatives from this feature.
Not all popularly or extensively used blends of spices could closely match this mixture. However, a handful can replicate its flavor, including:
So now, since we know that you are interested in discovering how these Baharat spice mix alternatives would help you, let’s get going without further delay!
The 6 Best Alternatives For The Baharat Spice Mix
The flavor profile of this spice blend is considered warm, slightly spicy, pungent, and aromatic. Therefore, the substitutes we intend to use in place of it also should possess similar flavor characteristics.
However, you remember that none of these Baharat spice mix substitutes will give the exact taste as the original product. But they are picked upon their capacity to provide a very close flavor replication. Moreover, most of them could be used as an ingredient and as a condiment too.
01- Ras el Hanout
Less popular than Baharat, Ras el Hanout nevertheless contains many ingredients our subject leader already has. Generally, the common spices they share are:
- Cumin
- Cardamom
- Cloves
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Black pepper
- Coriander seeds
In addition to these spices, Ras el Hanout may also include cayenne pepper and rarely used ingredients like cubeb berries, ash tree fruits, and guinea pepper berries. Therefore, due to these flavorings, Ras el Hanout can be a little more intense than Baharat.
However, this can still be a good replacement for the original product to be used in similar amounts with many rice, soup, and stew dishes as an ingredient. But, there are no traces of this being employed as a condiment in any recipe.
02- Garam Masala
Baharat is actually the Garam Masala of Middle Eastern cuisine! Indian and Middle cuisines share some similar aspects in cooking. And therefore, Garam Masala becomes an excellent Baharat spice mix alternative.
Garam Masala usually includes more ingredients than Baharat but shares a majority of common spices with our subject leader. It generally contains every staple in Baharat but does not typically include paprika. But instead, it has Kashmiri red chilies for spiciness.
Nevertheless, Garam Masala can have many other additional spices and hold a much stronger flavor than Baharat. Therefore, start with a smaller amount to build up taste when substituting. It is not usually used as a condiment; thus, you can use it in any cooked dish that calls for Baharat in the original recipe.
03- Tikka Masala
Tikka Masala also can work as good as Garam Masala would. This alternative shares common spices with Baharat, such as:
- Coriander seeds
- Black pepper
- Cumin
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Cardamoms
This is not typically put together with paprika, but Kashmiri red chili powder is used instead. Moreover, it might also have additional spices like black cardamoms that give the mix a unique zest.
Tikka Masala also functions best as an ingredient. And consequently, when using Baharat as a condiment, Tikka Masala will not be a good option. Use it moderately until you develop the desired flavor, and add a pinch of paprika if you think it is needed.
04- Tandoori Masala
Apparently, masalas from Indian cuisines are taking over our list! That happens because their contents are closer to that of our topic leader. So, here comes Tandoori Masala, the next possible Baharat spice mix substitute.
Tandoori Masala is a very flavorful blend of spices that share a set of common flavorings with Baharat such as:
- Cardamoms
- Coriander seeds
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Nutmeg
- Black pepper
However, this also does not generally contain paprika. But there can be additional ingredients in Tandoori mix like fenugreek leaves/seeds, mace, garlic, ginger, etc. So, like all the other Indian masalas, we recommend you to use this with cooked dishes when substituting.
Plus, 1:1 might not be pragmatic with the profundity of flavor that Tandori holds. Hence, try a little at a time until you get the preferred taste.
05- Berbere
Berbere is a savory icon in Ethiopian cooking with a depth of flavor known for its seasoning quality. This spice blend holds fifth place in our list because it contains most ingredients used in our original product-Bharat.
They are:
- Cloves
- Cumin
- Black peer
- Cardamom
- Cumin
- Coriander seeds
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
Above all, we should insist that berbere is rich in flavor compared to Baharat. Additional standard and exotic ingredients in the mix like allspice, fenugreek, red chilies, turmeric, ginger, ajwain, and nigella seeds give it a unique pungency that Bharat does not typically possess.
Therefore, always use it with moderation only in dishes that require cooking. It can be spicier and also contain salt. So, it would be best to be mindful of these flavor elements when using berbere as a replacement.
06- Homemade Baharat Spice Mix
If none of the above substitutes are around your kitchen or not available in the store, what else would have been done without trying to make your batch of Baharat!
Homemade Baharat will give a very similar flavor to the ones you buy from the store. And most importantly, you can use it as an ingredient and a condiment which couldn’t be with any of the options mentioned above.
So, to help you put together your own spice blend, we have a simple recipe that you can try.
Easy Homemade Baharat Spice Mix Recipe Made From Scratch
Just grab the most basic spices from your spice rack and make this amazing spice mix in no time! And, we bet that this is going to be one of the most epic Baharat spice mix alternatives you tried.
Let’s get started!
Preparation time- 5 minutes | Cooking time – 0 minutes | Additional time- 5 minutes
Total calories- 44 | Cuisine- Middle Eastern | Author- SpiceRally
Spices Needed
- One teaspoon from each ground black pepper and ground coriander
- Two teaspoons from each ground cumin and smoked paprika
- Half a teaspoon from each ground nutmeg and ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon from each ground cloves and ground cardamom
Instructions For Preparation
- Put all these ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
- Use immediately or store in an air-tight container until use.
Tasty Notes…
- Feel free to use any type of paprika that you have at home. If you need your mixture to be a bit hot, try some hot paprika.
- If you happen to have any whole spices from any of the above-listed ingredients, put them in a skillet and dry-roast them until fragrant. Then using a mortar and pestle or a food processor, grind them to a fine powder. Then you can mix it well with the other pre-ground spices.
Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness.
Auguste Escoffier
Can I Use Garam Masala Instead Of Baharat?
Garam Masala is a staple in Indian cooking, just like Baharat to the Middle Eastern cuisine. When coming down to their authentic recipes, we see that they share common spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, black pepper, etc. So, due to similar flavor elements, Garam Masala can be used instead of Baharat.
However, Garam Masala is actually a combination of subtle ingredients. In fact, it can contain many spices with different and pungent flavor profiles. Thus, as mentioned on point number two on our list above, you may have to be gentle when replacing the amounts.
Moreover, unlike Baharat, Garam Masala can typically be used in dishes that require a cooking process. Therefore, your intention of using it as a condiment alternative might not be feasible.
Is Baharat The Same As Allspice?
Baharat and allspice are not all the same. Allspice is a single spice/berry deriving from the Pimenta dioica tree, While on the contrary, Baharat is a blend of several flavorful spices. However, in some Baharat recipes, allspice is included as an ingredient.
So, What Is Your Favorite From The Baharat Substitutes Above?
The charm of this spice mix can be savored in many popular Middle Eastern dishes. So, you may be fancying bringing that flavor to your table, but sometimes you will have to back off if it is not in your pantry.
It is where the above-mentioned Baharat spice mix alternatives like Ras el Hanout, Garam Masala, Tikka Masala, Tandoori Masala, Berbere, and the homemade Baharat spice mix could come and save the special dish!
So, what is going to be your best pick? Let us know with a comment below!
