DIY spice blends are healthier and cheaper.
If you’ve ever been in the middle of preparing dinner only to discover you were unexpectedly out of a certain spice mix needed to make it, you’ll understand why making your own spice blends is a fantastic thing to learn. Plus, making DIY spice mixes are much cheaper. Read on for complete details on how to make some of the most popular spice mixes around.
Montreal Steak Seasoning
This spice blend is the go-to seasoning for many chefs. It’s terrific on any type of meat.
4 tablespoon coarse kosher salt*
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 tablespoon garlic powdered
1/2 tablespoon crushed red pepper
1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
1/2 tablespoon dried rosemary
1/2 tablespoon ground coriander seed
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Essential now that autumn is here, use this spice blend for anything with pumpkin in it.
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1½ teaspoon ground allspice
1½ teaspoon ground cloves
¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Taco Seasoning
For any dish you want to give that Tex-Mex flavor, this seasoning will do the trick. To increase or decrease the amount of “hot” in the spice, reduce or increase the amount of red pepper.
2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt*
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Old Bay
This classic New England spice is used primarily for seafood, chicken, and French fries.
1 tablespoon bay leaf powder
2 tablespoon celery salt
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons mustard powder
1 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoons ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1/8 teaspoons ground allspice
1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoons ground mace
1/4 teaspoons ground cardamom
Ranch Dressing Mix
To turn this spice blend into Ranch dressing, just mix 2 tablespoons of the mix with 1 cup of mayo and 1 cup of buttermilk. You can also try using sour cream or yogurt in place of the milk. To turn this spice blend into a great dip for veggies, just blend 1 tablespoon of the mix with 1 cup of sour cream. In both cases, it’s best to mix the ingredients together and chill for several hours before serving.
1 cup dried minced onions
7 tablespoon parsley flakes
4 tablespoons coarse sea salt*
1 tablespoon garlic powder
* Unrefined sea or kosher salt may be substituted with ordinary table salt, but because it measures out differently, much less should be used or the end result will be too salty – and too high in sodium.
Gourmet recipes at your finger tips...
