This easy allspice recipe is a good substitute to use in cooking when you can’t get genuine allspice. It is a perfect combination of spices that mimic the taste of the allspice berry. Use this allspice recipe as a replacement in recipes that call for ground allspice.
What Is Allspice?
Allspice is a dried smooth berry that comes from the Pimenta diocia tree originally found in the Caribbean and is now cultivate in the American tropics. The berries are harvested green and unripe, fermented for a short time then sun dried causing them to turn a reddish-brown colour.
Is Allspice The Same As 5 Spice?
No, they are not the same. Real allspice is a dried berry that looks similar to a smooth peppercorn. Its flavour is mixed and tastes similar to a combination of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. Allspice can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes.
Five spice powder is a blend of ground cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise and Szechwan peppercorns. Five spice powder is more commonly used in savoury dishes.
What Can I Use If I Don’t Have Allspice?
An easy homemade allspice alternative for ground allspice can be made by mixing cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder and cloves powder.
If a recipe asks for a pinch (= 1/8th of a teaspoon) of allspice, don’t go to the trouble of making this recipe if you are not going to use it again soon. Instead use a pinch of ground nutmeg (for savoury dishes) or ground cinnamon (for sweet dishes).
How To Make Allspice From Scratch?
As mentioned before allspice flavour is a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
Cinnamon is a mild spice so more of it can be used, nutmeg and cloves are much stronger in flavour and can be overpowering if too much is used.
When making your own allspice recipe mix, it all comes down to personal taste.
You could start by combing 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves and ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Mix well and taste, if you feel it’s lacking a certain spice add a little more until you get the taste you like.
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Recipe
Allspice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Combine the spices in a small bowl and mix until blended.
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