This post may contain affiliate links.
Advieh is a Persian spice mix made with several aromatic spices. Warm and flavorful spices such as cardamom, turmeric and cinnamon make the perfect mix for many recipes!
Of all the elements in cooking, spices have always been my favorite! I adore the magic they bring to each and every dish. Whether it’s Lebanese seven spice or Moroccan ras el hanout, the right combination of spices can take the dish to a whole new level. Today I’m going to show you how to make advieh, a Persian spice mix that you can use in a variety of recipe, from rice dishes to stews and everything in between.
Table of Contents
All about advieh
Advieh simply means “Spice”. Spices play a a very important role in Persian cuisine. They are usually very mild and subtle, not too strong. They’re like melody brought to the notes of a dish. Without advieh a dish will simply be a cooked form of ingredients without a soul, without a memory. That’s why I always keep my spices close to me: my dishes always bear memories.
I have grown up smelling and using this spices everyday; they’re a part of my memories and who I am. My childhood memories include mornings that started with the aromas of cinnamon and cardamom and days that ended with the scent of rose and saffron. This is why spices are so dear to me – they remember everything.
I’m so excited to talk about Advieh, this magical blend of the most aromatic and flavorful spices you’ll ever taste. Advieh is used in many different Persian recipes, such as mixed rice dishes and stews, to elevate the flavors without much work.
What is Advieh made of?
Advieh is a combination of spices mixed together to make one spice that could be used in many different dishes. Depending on what advieh is going to be used for, the basic spices can change. The Persian spice mix we’re looking at today is a mix that can be used in any savory dish. I call it my go-to advieh and it’s made of these spices:
- Cumin: It’s used in both forms of powder and seed in Persian, Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine. The flavor is strong and a little bit smoky and once it’s added to rice it can do wonders. Ground cumin is used in advieh and also in Persian Pickles (torshi) .
- Cloves: One of my all time favorite spices, cloves bring a sweet floral flavor to the spice mix that gives warmth and character to the Iranian spice mix.
- Cinnamon: This aromatic spice is very common in Persian cuisine to make sweet and savory recipes. Cinnamon sticks is also used to brew Persian tea.
- Dried Rose Petals: The rose petals that are used for culinary purposes are different from the regular roses. To make advieh you need ground rose petals. They have a light floral aroma and can also be sprinkled on plain yogurt with some mint.
- Black Pepper: A staple of every kitchen. A little bit of black pepper is added to advieh to give it a little heat.
- Turmeric: It is an ancient spice that is widely used is Persian cuisine, mostly in savory dishes. Turmeric is usually used in ground form and it should be used moderately as it can overpower other spices in a dish. It has a strong yellow color and is becoming more popular in recent years.
- Cardamom: This aromatic come in the form of the pod or ground. You can use it in both sweet and savory Persian recipes and is also one of the spices used in making advieh. Adding a few cardamom pods to a pot of brewing tea will make the tea very aromatic and lovely. Cardamom also pairs really well with rose water or Persian dried roses.
And of course, Saffron is a spice that must not be missed from the list of key spices of Persian cuisine. This golden spice is expensive yet a small amount of it goes a long way. Saffron strands need to be ground and then bloomed (brewed). Here is a full tutorial on how to bloom saffron.
Now that you know these spices, you can easily make your own Persian spice mix. All you need to do is to mix the right amount of each spice together and store in a jar in your spice cabinet. A teaspoon would be enough to make any dish ten times more delicious.
Uses for Persian spice mix
You can use advieh in many different recipes. It gives so much flavor and aroma to every dish you would like to use it in:
- Mixed rice dishes such as Adas Polo or Persian Tomato Rice.
- Stews or chicken dishes that are served with rice such as Zereshk Polo or Lamb Stew Recipe
- Sprinkle some Persian spice mix on chicken, lamb or beef and then grill them. It would be very hard to resist those delicious kebabs!
- Any non Persian dish that you want to bring a new flavor profile to.
Cooking with advieh is so much fun and joy for me. And I bet it would be for you, too. Making homemade spice mix is such a great way to bring a little bit of “you” into any dish you make. Homemade spice mix is what makes people remember your food and how you used to make a recipe. Without a doubt, this homemade Persian spice mix will help you create new memories.
I have grown up smelling and using this spices everyday; they’re a part of my memories and who I am. My childhood memories include mornings that started with the aromas of cinnamon and cardamom and days that ended with the scent of rose and saffron. This is why spices are so dear to me – they remember everything.
More Persian Recipes
Persian Recipes
Ghormeh Sabzi – Persian Herb Stew (Video)
Persian Recipes
Joojeh Kabab (Persian Saffron Chicken Kebab)
Persian Recipes
Salad Shirazi (Persian Cucumber Tomato Salad)
Persian Recipes
Ash Reshteh (Persian Noodle Soup)
Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!
Advieh (Persian Spice Mix)
Ingredients
- 4 tsp Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Ground Clove
- 4 tsp Cinnamon
- 2 tsp Dried Rose Petals
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 2 tsp Turmeric
- 2 tsp Ground Cardamom
Instructions
- Layer all the spices in a jar with a tight lid.
- Shake well and make sure the spices are fully mixed.
- Store in the spice cabinet and use for rice dishes, stews and kebabs.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Where would one get dried rose petals?
You can get them online or at middle eastern/Mediterranean shops.
I love how your words brought this whole post to life. I feel like I have a sweet memory already just reading about yours!
Do you think leaving out the saffron altogether would greatly hinder the flavor profile? Obviously, it would be different, but is it a different that is still good and aromatic without it?
Hi Rachel, thank you for your kind words! the spice mix will still be good and aromatic without saffron. Saffron is an important spice for some Persian recipes, but there are also many recipes on our website that don’t use saffron 🙂
Your photographs are simply stunning! I love the idea of making a spice mix at home – it can’t get any fresher than this ♥
Thank you Natalie! That’s right, homemade spice mix is the best!
I’m so grateful I’ve found this Persian Spice Recipe! It’s really useful for me because I just started exploring different cuisines. I hope you post more of these!
Thank you Katherine! I’m so glad you like this recipe <3 That's the direction we're heading in, more food from my roots <3
This spice combo sounds so exotic! When I was traveling in Morocco I went to a traditional spice shop where the spices were ground on demand. Spices create such a memory, a flavor that brings us back to certain places and dishes.
I agree with you Emily! Spices always bring memories of certain things. Morocco is on my bucket list, can’t wait to visit!
Sounds like these spices would be perfect for many dishes!
That’s true!
Your post mentions saffron but there is none in the recipe; was this an oversight?
Hi Donna, Thank you for your email. Saffron has been mentioned as a key spice in Persian cuisine. However, I don’t add it to the advieh mixture directly because: 1) it needs to be brewed (or bloomed) separately and 2) it may overpower other flavors. I usually brew saffron separately and add it to the food as needed. Hope this helps 🙂
What a fabulous post about spices. And I have to tell you, when I first scrolled down, my jaw literally dropped at the beauty of the photo and the spices. The colors are so vibrant and gorgeous!
Thank you Valentina! Spices are amazing to work with and enjoy!