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Homemade Galat Dagga | Add Authentic
Tunisian Flavours to Your Home Cooking

Galat dagga, probably better known as Tunisian five spice, is a  sweet and warm blend of five ingredients combined that will enable you prepare food with Tunisian flavours and aromas. This traditional mix is super-easy to-make and is a simple mix of cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, peppercorns and the seldom used (by me at least) grains of paradise. Traditionally it's used as an all-purpose seasoning and is delicious when added to meat and vegetable dishes. (See the bottom of the page for links to more of my recipes)

What You'll Need: (makes about 5 tablespoons)

2 tbsp white or black peppercorns 
1 tbsp ground cinnamon 
1 tbsp grains of paradise
1 tsp whole cloves
1 tsp ground or grated nutmeg

tbsp = tablespoon
tsp = teaspoon

Directions:

• Fairly coarsely grind the peppercorns, grains of paradise and cloves

• Once ground, add to a bowl

• Finally, add the ground cinnamon and nutmeg to the bowl. Combine thoroughly
  
  

Store your Galat dagga in an airtight jar out of direct sunlight and in a cool place. Use within 3 months before making more.

Note: If you have the time, I recommend you dry toast the peppercorns and cloves prior to cooling and grinding. This greatly intensifies the flavours and aromas which will be transferred to your cooking. Click here for photos and tips on toasting and grinding. (Link opens in new window)

Ingredient Note: If you can, use a few whole ingredients for this Tunisian 5 spice and grind them yourself as these will add more intense flavours. If you haven't got them whole though, you can simply use pre-ground powders. If you do, reduce the amounts the recipe requires by half. For example, 2 tablespoons of peppercorns equals 1 tablespoon of pre-ground pepper. Reduce any other ingredients you don't have whole by half as well and stir in with any other powders when making. 

Homemade Galat Dagga

Here's a video of how I made a version of the above Galat Daqqa. If you enjoyed it, you can click the subscribe button in the bottom right corner in the video, or click the subscribe link below the video...

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Why You Should Make Your Own Seasonings and Flavourings

Of course it's convenient to pop to the store and pick up a jar of commercial seasonings; but here's why I recommend you make your own...

• More intense, fresher flavour than store-bought blends that will be transferred to your food

• Whilst there will be a use by/sell by date, it's unlikely there is a date of manufacture. It may have been sitting on the store shelf for months, and maybe even years, slowly losing flavour!

• You decide what is added. Not keen on a certain ingredient? Leave it out completely or just use another 

• Commercial blends, especially cheaper ones, may contain extra ingredients: cheap chili powder, processed salt and husks for example. These are used as filler ingredients to add bulk

• No artificial colours, additives or preservatives. And If you're able to source organic ingredients your galat dagga will be free of pesticides and GMO's!
  
  

After Making Your Galat Dagga You May Like to Try...

Shichimi Togarashi - The
Flavourful Japanese
Seven Spice

Baharat - Capture the
Taste of the Middle East

Garam Masala Range - 
For Authentic Indian 
Home Cooking

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