What to Use This Moroccan Spice Blend For?
Each time I host a gathering or a Moroccan-themed party and cook traditional Moroccan tagines, my guests ask me if I have a secret and authentic Moroccan spice blend recipe they can use to cook Moroccan tagines. Well, guess what? I do have that Moroccan seasoning recipe and my friends loved it so much that I decided to share it here with you
I learned to make that Moroccan spice mix in my teen years when I was studying in France and had no choice but to learn how to cook my favorite Moroccan dishes. This Moroccan spice blend is a fragrant, easy-to-make spice mix, handy when you don’t have time or want to make sure you always have all the spices required to successfully season a traditional Moroccan tagine. It is also the perfect spice mix to season any of your chicken-based dishes.
Spices are Moroccan cuisine’s essential. In fact. Moroccan cuisine doesn’t use a lot of fancy ingredients, its philosophy is even the opposite. It brings the best out of simple ingredients by using the right aromatics and spice mixes.
One of Morocco’s most loved dishes is the tagine, a dish made with meat (red meat, poultry, or fish) and vegetable leftovers. When looking at the ingredients of the tagine, they seem basic and uninteresting. But the use of spices and aromatics makes the biggest difference and completely transforms this dish. While cooking, the meat and vegetables are infused with a combination of spices and aromatics creating one of the most comforting – and healthy – dishes you can have.
One of the secrets to making a great Moroccan spice mix is to use good quality spices – I call them fresh spices. The first time I left Morocco and started cooking, I couldn’t figure out why my dishes were not as fragrant and hearty as the ones my mother made. After A LOT of experimentation, it hit me. I was using frozen, processed ingredients and I grabbed my spices from random deli shops. Moroccan cuisine on the other hand thrives on fresh ingredients and fresh spices.
Many Moroccan women grind their spices themselves. It takes extra effort but Oh the result is so worth it! So with this in mind, I now make sure I get good quality spices from my local supermarket. Good quality spices are those that are 100% natural, that have a strong scent, and that have been ground less than a couple of months ago.
Moroccan Spice Blend Recipe
This Moroccan spice blend is based on a savant spice mix. Moroccans know what spice combinations are best to bring the best out of each ingredient. Chicken loves ginger, for example, and chickpeas thrive on cumin!
The authentic Moroccan spice mix I will share with you combines all the spices used for making traditional Moroccan chicken tagines. It is super easy to make and uses simple spices that you probably already have in your kitchen. If you don’t, you will find them at any local market, just make sure they are of good quality, otherwise, you will need to use more quantities to get the same result.
I prefer to not add salt to this Moroccan spice blend. Adding salt separately when cooking avoids oversalting and ruining your dish.
I also prefer to use fresh garlic as it gives a better taste and better health benefits, but if you prefer, you can add garlic powder to this spice mix as I will share with you below.
Moroccan Spice Blend Recipe | Moroccan Seasoning
Equipment
- Air-tight glass jar
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp ginger powder
- 2 tbsp black pepper powder
- 3 tbsp turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp garlic powder optional
- 1 tbsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tbsp cinnamon powder
Instructions
- Mix all the spices in a bowl. Make sure the bowl is perfectly dry, otherwise, your spice mix can mold
- In a perfectly dry airtight glass jar, pour the spice mix and store up to 5 months
Dosage
- Use to season tagines or any chicken-based recipe. Use 1 tsp in every serving of 2
Nutrition
What to Use This Moroccan Spice Blend For?
This Moroccan spice blend will be perfect to season your chicken and meat, whether you are making a traditional Moroccan tagine dish or not. I use it for my chicken and meat when roasting in the oven (with some olive oil), or when making hearty stews. You won’t need any more spices, this Moroccan spice blend will be all you need.
You can also use it to make delicious Moroccan tagine recipes. If you are new to tagine making and love hearty and healthy meals, I highly recommend this tagine ebook which lists the easiest Moroccan recipes you can make with the simplest ingredients. You’ll love it, I’m sure!
loved it
I made this Moroccan spice mix yesterday and used it to season my roasted potatoes and chicken cubes. I added salt and used fresh garlic as Safa recommends. It was delicious!
Delicious
I usually have leftovers but not this time! My hubby loved the flavor and ate most of the chicken. I am definitely writing this recipe in my recipes book. Thank you!
worked perfectly
the best recipe for Moroccan spice mix, thank you!
I was tired of using the same spices again and again
this is an easy recipe that really works… I added it to my potatoes and chicken drumsticks and magic happened ! thank you!!
I recommend
This recipe is now in my favorites, thank you
delicious!
this recipe is not printed and in my recipes box. a must! thank you!
just made it
just made it this morning and used it cook my chicken drumsticks. The smell coming out of the oven is so yummy! thank you!!
so tasteful
this spice blend will change the way you cook, believe me! So So So tasteful. Thank you!
easy and cheap
made it in 5 minutes …. it smells wonderful. thank you for this amazing family recipe and for saving our money!
Thank you
this is what I needed, a recipe from someone who knows what he is talking about..
my children loved it
I added a tsp of this spice to my chicken stew and let me tell you, there were no leftovers. thank you Safa
Response from Moroccanzest
glad your family liked it kate!
better than my market spice blend
This spice blend has a stronger taste that really makes a difference in a recipe. Recommend!
omg
so easy and practical. Just shared the recipe with my mother who loves Moroccan cuisine
sooo delicious
thank you so much! I used it with my scrambled eggs and that was a hit!
is garlic powder mandatory?
I don’t like the garlic taste, is it mandatory?
Response from Moroccanzest
Hi, I would say no, especially if you use a little bit of fresh onion with your dish. Garlic (or onion) helps get rid of the strong smell of chicken. xx
simple and tasteful
This is what I needed to spice up my dishes a little bit. Thanks so much!
my chicken loved it
I used it to spice my chicken stew and it was perfect! Had to add a little bit of salt, but better to follow the recipe and adjust later
The best
THIS is better than any Moroccan blend mix you can find in the market. Try it and you will see!
love love love!
I just made this spice blend and my family really loves it! it’s easy to make and makes so much of a difference in my chicken stews.
From design and decor to food and travel, moroccanzest is the space where I share what I loved growing up in Morocco, and more. It’s your destination for everything beautiful, artistic, and made the Moroccan way with love.
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