Cooking with spices can add a whole new dimension of flavor to your cooking. Creating your own blends can help you cater to your family’s taste, and save you some time as well. All you will have to do is sprinkle a little of your blend, rather than open a half dozen bottles every time you want to make Italian sauce or tasty tacos.
Here are some quick and easy blends. Organize some clean spice bottles, jars, or small plastic containers with lids, some sticky labels, and a waterproof marker, and you will be ready to start blending.
Note that the amounts are generally accurate for the average palate. Add more or less depending on your preferences.
1. Chili Seasoning
- 4 tbsp chili powder
- 4 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
Add 2 tablespoons of chili seasoning to one pot of chili.
2. Chinese 5-spice powder
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 3 star anise, ground
- 1 tsp crushed fennel seed
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Generous dash ground cloves
Add 1 or 2 teaspoons to your stir fries and other Chinese dishes. You can also use it as a rub for poultry.
3. Curry powder
- 3 tbsp paprika
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp ground fennel seed
- 2 tsp ground yellow mustard seeds
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tbsp ground turmeric
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of the blend to your curry dishes.
4. Homemade Ranch Dressing Seasoning
- 2 tbsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried dill
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp black or white pepper
Use 1 tablespoon to season 1/4 cup whole milk and 1/3 cup mayonnaise. Whisk together until completely smooth. Use it as a dressing or dip.
5. Pizza Blend
- 2 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 Tbsp dried onion flakes
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- Dash salt
- Generous dash black pepper
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
Add 1 tablespoon to your pizza or pasta sauce.
6. Cream of___ Soups
If you have a recipe that calls for a creamed soup, use this as the base, along with the fresh ingredients, such as mushroom for a green bean casserole, celery, chicken, and so on.
- 1 cup powdered non-fat dry milk
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 3 tbsp chicken bouillon granules
- 1 tbsp minced onion
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried marjoram
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
Cook enough of the main ingredient in a pot until tender, to make a can or two of soup. Add about 1 1/4 cups of water to create a “can”, or double the amount for two cans. Whisk in the mix until combined and heat over a medium flame until it reaches your desired thickness.
7. Taco Seasoning
- 2 tbsp chili powder (mild)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 2 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp pepper
Use 2 tablespoons per pound of meat. This will work well with poultry or fish tacos too.
