Quatre Épices Recipe

This quatre épices recipe, or four spices, is a traditional blend that can be found in many French kitchens, along with some parts of the Middle East. This mix is sometimes referred to as French allspice. The blend contains white pepper, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves and it's used to season everything from soups to grilled chicken. It's often incorporated in pâté, terrines, and sausage.

When you're making your own spice blend, it's important to make sure your spices are as fresh as possible. Take a whiff and if they smell musty, old, or less than vibrant, pitch them and start over. If you can get your hands on whole nutmeg and grate it yourself, the difference in the taste cannot compare to pre-ground jarred nutmeg. It's worth the effort. Similarly, white pepper loses its potency quickly, so if you can grind it fresh yourself, the blend will taste better.

This traditional version of quatre épices uses white pepper, but black pepper can be used as a substitution. White pepper is sometimes used in situations where you want pepper's bite without the black flecks in the dish; it's not uncommon to find it in a French sauce or in Asian dishes. Additionally, white pepper's flavor is typically milder and less complex than black pepper.