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Moroccan spiced coffee

Qahwa bel attria: coffee brewed with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom and sesame

In many Moroccan homes, coffee is bought ready-mixed from the roaster with a spoonful of 'attria', a warm blend of ground spices such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, black pepper and toasted sesame, that gives it a rounded, gently peppery aroma. It is brewed in a pan or a pot and sipped black and sweet, or with a splash of milk, after lunch, with pastries for guests, or on cold mornings. The spices soften the bitterness and make the whole kitchen smell wonderful. This home version mixes the spices into ordinary ground coffee. Chef's tip: keep the coffee at a bare simmer and never let it boil hard; vigorous boiling, the usual mistake, extracts bitterness from both coffee and spices.
Total time
10 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
2
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Ingredients

Serves2

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What you'll need

Fresh ingredients (1)

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Method

0/5 done
  1. Step 1: Mix ⅔ oz medium-ground coffee, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground ginger, 1 pinch ground nutmeg, 1 pinch ground black pepper, 1 green cardamom pod and ½ tsp toasted sesame seeds in a small bowl.

  2. Step 2: Bring 2 cups water to the boil in a small pan, then turn the heat down to low so it barely bubbles.

  3. Step 3: Stir in the spiced coffee and let it steep at a bare simmer, stirring once, until dark and fragrant.

    3 min
  4. Step 4: Take off the heat and leave it to stand for 2 minutes so the grounds sink.

    2 min
  5. Step 5: Pour slowly through a fine sieve or paper filter into cups. Sweeten with 2 tsp sugar and add a splash of milk if you like.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
15 kcal
Protein
0 g
Carbs
3 g
Fat
0 g
Fibre
0 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does moroccan spiced coffee take?
About 10 minutes in total: 3 minutes to prepare and 7 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegan?
Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
What can I use instead of ground cinnamon?
A cinnamon stick, ground: about ½ tsp per stick.
What can I use instead of ground ginger?
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger per ¼ tsp ground.

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