It’s here! It’s arrived! It’s landed!! Zoitsa Homely Produce would like to introduce you to B’Zhar Spice Mix…
Some of you might know this mix as Arabian Spice Mix, or Arabian Baharat.
But what is it I hear you all ask? B’Zhar is a traditional spice mix used with slight variations in the Middle East, North Africa, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates and Gulf countries. Each country and each region and each household have their own recipes, blends, variations. In Turkey they traditionally add fennel seeds to their version, in North Africa they tend to add a touch of rose petals. Our version is a combination of using many variations and putting our stamp on it.
Our version of B’Zhar has black peppercorns, sweet paprika, cumin, coriander seeds, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamon, ginger, turmeric, and galangal.
B’Zhar is a very popular in Middle Eastern cooking and I can see why! It’s a gorgeous blend that compliments lamb, fish or chicken and turns a boring stew into something extremely extraordinary. It’s also excellent as a rub on lamb leg or rack of lamb for a Sunday night family roast. It is amazing in hamburger meat, and once you add a slice of cheese in your burger the creaminess of the cheese really balances out the peppery taste. We tend to use this spice mix on our lamb chops before we barbeque/grill.
There is a hint of spicy thanks to the peppercorns and sweet paprika, but it’s at first taste you get hit with a peppery taste and then the cloves come on which add this unique kind of sweetness. It is peppery, earthy, yet sweet spiced. It’s a “low heat” seasoning. It’s aromatic with a bit of zest and I guess it’s safe to say that it is distinctly exotic. There is a definite peppery aftertaste that lingers in the background but man its good! I should say that the flavour profile and taste are highly subjective. Right?
I have been reading up and researching a lot about the Spice Trade and The Spice Routes and to say it is fascinating would be the understatement of the year! I couldn’t exactly pinpoint when this spice mix first came to fruition, but clearly The Arabian Spice Traders at the time were the ones to introduce this beautiful blend.
The best way to use our B’Zhar Spice Mix is if you are using it in a stew or in burger meat/faux meats then add one teaspoon to 500 grams of “meat”. If using as a rub on a rack of lamb or lamb shoulder add 1 tablespoon to two tablespoons of olive oil, mix to form a paste then brush on your protein and allow to marinate for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
As we always say…we add NO nasties. NO Chemicals. NO anti-caking agents. NO weird chemical additives. NO fats, NO oils, NO sugars, NO thickeners, NO preservatives.
Our B’Zhar Spice Mix is Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Allergen Free. Paleo and Keto Friendly.
بالهناء والشفاء / بالهنا والشفا /bil-hanā’ wa ash-shifā’/ May you have your meal with gladness and health/ Bon Appetit
