Chermoula spice blend is a North African seasoning that’s perfect for Moroccan tagines, lamb dishes, and BBQ chicken. Versatile and incredibly flavorful, this homemade seasoning is a great substitute for Moroccan spice mix and one that’s incredibly easy to make. With its balanced blend of aromatic herbs and spices, you can effortlessly adjust it to suit your taste preferences, transforming your dishes into authentic and delectable North African creations.
For more from-scratch staples, check out my homemade burrito spice mix, seed crackers, sauerkraut, and bone broth recipes.
7 benefits of homemade spice mixes
- Freshness and quality: You control the freshness and quality of ingredients.
- Customization: Tailor blends to your taste and dietary preferences.
- No additives: Avoid artificial additives and preservatives.
- Reduced sodium: Control salt content for healthier options.
- Cost-effective: Bulk spices save money over store-bought blends.
- Sustainability: Reduce packaging waste with reusable containers.
- Gifts: Thoughtful and unique homemade gifts.
What is chermoula?
Chermoula is a North African marinade and sauce commonly used in Moroccan, Algerian, and Tunisian cuisines. It is known for its vibrant flavors and is typically used to season and enhance the taste of various dishes, particularly seafood, but also meats, vegetables, and grains. Chermoula is often used as a marinade before grilling, roasting, or frying, or as a finishing sauce to add a burst of flavor to cooked dishes.
Ingredients
- Cumin – Cumin is a key spice in North African cuisine, adding earthy and aromatic notes to dishes
- Parsley – Parsley is a ubiquitous herb in North African cuisine, used generously in dishes like couscous, tagines, and salads to impart freshness and vibrant flavor.
- Coriander – Coriander plays a central role in chermoula, providing the sauce with its distinctive fresh, citrusy, and herbaceous flavor.
- Paprika – Sweet paprika powder adds a rich, smoky depth to this spice blend.
- Cayenne – Cayenne pepper brings a fiery kick to the mix, infusing it with a bold, spicy heat that balances the other flavors.
- Cinnamon & Ginger – Ground cinnamon and ginger impart warm, sweet-spicy notes, adding complexity and depth to this North African spice mix.
- Turmeric – The mix gets its vibrant color and earthy flavor thanks to turmeric.
- Garlic – Garlic is a fundamental ingredient in North African cuisine, adding robust flavor and aroma.
- Lemon salt – Lemon salt provides a bright and zesty citrusy element, adding a refreshing and tangy flavor to this Chermoula mixture.
Tips
- Taste it: Before finalizing your spice mix, take a small pinch and taste it. Adjust the proportions if necessary to achieve the desired balance of flavors.
- Storage: Make sure the container is clean and dry before adding the Moroccan spice blend.
- Label it: Label the container with the name of the spice mix and the date it was made.
Easy chermoula recipes
Simply add a chermoula dry rub to meat including lamb and chicken, vegetables, grains, or combine it with oil and other condiments to create easy North African marinades and sauces.
- Chermoula grilled fish: Marinate your favorite fish fillets (such as salmon, cod, or snapper) in chermoula spice mix for at least 30 minutes. Grill the fish until cooked through and flaky.
- Chermoula roasted vegetables: Toss vegetables (such as bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion) with chermoula spice mix and olive oil before roasting in the oven.
- Moroccan roast chicken: Rub a whole chicken with chermoula spice mix, both on the outside and under the skin before roasting.
- Chermoula-marinated grilled lamb chops: Marinate lamb chops in chermoula spice mix for a few hours before grilling them.
- Chermoula-spiced slow-cooked Moroccan lamb shanks: Add a generous amount of chermoula spice mix to the lamb shanks before slow-cooking them.
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FAQ
Chermoula is more about the blend of herbs and spices that contribute to its unique taste profile, rather than being a particularly spicy mixture.
Recipe
Chermoula Spice Blend
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp sweet paprika powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1/2 tsp ginger powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp lemon salt
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp dried parsley, 1 tbsp ground coriander, 1 tsp sweet paprika powder, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp cinnamon powder, 1/2 tsp ginger powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp lemon salt.2 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp dried parsley, 1 tbsp ground coriander, 1 tsp sweet paprika powder, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp cinnamon powder, 1/2 tsp ginger powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp lemon salt, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- Thoroughly combine the spices with a spoon or small whisk.
- Transfer the spice blend into a sterilized, lidded jar and use as directed in your favorite Moroccan or North African recipes.