Seasonings and Spice Blends

Homemade seasonings and spice blends are a fantastic way to add personalized flavor to your dishes. They are customizable, cost-effective, and free from preservatives and additives found in many store-bought options.

 

Our favorite place to buy spices is Frontier Co-op. Their FAQs can be viewed here.

 

Why you should make your own spice mixes…

• Customization: Tailor flavors to your personal taste preferences, dietary needs or specific recipes.
• Freshness: Homemade blends often use fresh herbs and spices, resulting in more vibrant flavors.
• Cost-effective: Buying spices in bulk and blending them yourself can save money compared to pre-made seasonings.
• Creativity: Experiment with different herbs and spices to develop unique flavors and signature blends.
• Control over Salt and Other Ingredients: Adjust salt levels or omit ingredients to make healthier options.
• Better Quality: Use high-quality, whole spices and herbs for superior taste and aroma.
• Versatility: Create multi-purpose blends that can be used in various dishes, reducing the need for many different seasonings.
• No additives or preservatives: Avoid unwanted chemicals, fillers or artificial ingredients found in store-bought blends. You might have food allergies and need to avoid certain ingredients, but there are other ingredients in typical store-bought spice blends that you just might want to avoid.

Some of those things are:

Silicon Dioxide – a free-flowing agent that’s linked to insulin resistance (Source)

Maltodextrin – can lead to gastrointestinal problems (Source)

MSG – linked to multiple health concerns (Source)

Natural Flavors – these can be just about anything — including the kind of scary MSG

Modified Food Starch – typically sourced from wheat (contains gluten) or corn (typically GMO)

Hydrolyzed Proteins – not necessarily as bad as other ingredients, but there are concerns about them causing anxiety and more (Source)

 

Tips for making your own seasoning blends…

• Use Complementary Herbs and Spices: Combine herbs like oregano, thyme, basil, rosemary with spices such as paprika, cumin, coriander, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne for depth.
• Balance Flavors: Aim for a mix that balances savory, sweet, spicy and umami notes. Taste as you go and adjust proportions.
• Toast Whole Spices: If using whole spices, toast them lightly before grinding to release more flavor.
• Grind or Powder for Consistency: Use a mortar and pestle or spice grinder for a fine, uniform blend.
• Experiment and Adjust: Start with small batches, taste and tweak the ratios until you find what works best for your palate.
• Transferring to Container: Use a small funnel with a wider bottom LINK AMAZON to transfer seasoning from the bowl to the storage jar or container.
• Store Properly: Keep blends in airtight containers away from light and heat to maintain freshness.
• Label and Date: For easy identification and to track freshness over time.

 

Equipment needed for making DIY seasoning blends

• Spice grinder or mortar and pestle
• Measuring spoons
• Whisk to blend the ingredients together and to break up any clumps
• Small jars or airtight containers for storage
• A small funnel with a wide bottom for transferring from bowl to container

 

Our recipes

Adobo Seasoning  An all-purpose dry spice blend often found in Caribbean and Latin American cuisine. Use this to make our

All-Purpose Spice Blend An all-purpose spice blend is a versatile mixture of spices and herbs designed to enhance the flavor of a wide variety of dishes.

Apple Pie Spice Apple pie spice is a blend of warm, aromatic spices commonly used in apple pies and other baked goods.

Baharat  A versatile spice blend commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine.

Bay Seafood Seasoning A versatile blend that can enhance the flavor of many dishes.

Cajun Seasoning  A versatile spice blend that can be used in a variety of dishes to add bold, zesty flavor.

Celery Salt  A versatile seasoning with a variety of uses.

Chaat Masala  A flavorful spice blend commonly used in Indian cuisine. This is usually sprinkled on vegetables, main dishes, rice, pasta dishes, etc.

Chinese Five-Spice  A versatile seasoning with a sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami flavor profile.

Copycat Beau Monde Seasoning  A versatile blend of spices commonly used to enhance the flavor of various dishes. Use this to make our fabulous Beau Monde Dip recipe.

Copycat Lawry’s Seasoned Salt  A popular seasoned salt blend known for its rich flavor and versatility in cooking. It was first introduced by Lawry’s, a well-known spice company, and has become a staple in many kitchens.

Copycat Montreal Steak Seasoning  A versatile blend that can enhance a wide variety of dishes.

Copycat Mrs. Dash Salt Free Seasoning  A versatile seasoning blend that can enhance the flavor of many dishes without adding salt.

Copycat Schilling Salad Supreme  A versatile seasoning blend primarily used to enhance the flavor of salads

Crab and Shrimp Seasoning  This is very close to the seasoning used at the famous Bookbinder’s in Philadelphia.

Creole (Bayou) Seasoning  A versatile blend of herbs and spices that adds bold, flavorful touches to a variety of dishes.

Curry Powder (Mild)  A versatile spice blend with a wide range of uses in cooking.

Dry Onion Soup Mix  A seasoned powdered mixture primarily made from dried onions, salt, beef bouillon, and various herbs and spices.

Emeril’s Essence (Bayou Blast)  A flavorful seasoning blend that can be used in a variety of culinary applications.

Everything Bagel Seasoning  It is good on so many things, including salads, pizza crusts, veggie bowls, avocado, etc.

Fajita Seasoning  A versatile spice blend that can be used in many delicious ways beyond just fajitas.

French Fy Seasoning  A flavorful blend of ingredients designed to enhance the taste of crispy fries.

Garam Masala  A versatile and aromatic spice blend commonly used in Indian cuisine.

German Seasoning A versatile blend of herbs and spices commonly used in German cuisine.

Greek Seasoning  A versatile blend of herbs and spices that adds a flavorful Mediterranean touch to many dishes.

Harissa  A hot chile paste that is commonly used in North African cooking, mainly Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian cuisine. It is added to couscous, soups, pastas and other recipes.

Herb Seasoning  A versatile ingredient that can enhance the flavor of many dishes.

Herbes de Provence  A flavorful blend of dried herbs commonly used in French cuisine.

India Seasoning   A versatile spice blend that can be used in many culinary applications to enhance flavor

Italian Seasoning  A versatile blend of herbs that can enhance many dishes.

Herbes De Provence  A traditional blend of dried herbs that originate from the Provence region in southeastern France.

Jerk Seasoning  A versatile spice blend with a bold, smoky, and spicy flavor.

Lemon Pepper Seasoning  A versatile spice blend that adds tangy, citrusy flavor with a hint of spice.

Maggi Seasoning  Red pepper, garlic, cumin, onion, chili powder and tomato flavors make this versatile blend a fantastic choice.

Mexican Seasoning   A versatile blend of spices that can enhance a wide variety of dishes.

Moroccan Seasoning  A flavorful blend of spices that can be used in a variety of dishes to add warmth and complexity.

Paul Prudhomme’s Seasoning Mix  A versatile blend that can be used in many dishes to add bold, Cajun-inspired flavor.

Poultry Seasoning  A versatile blend of herbs and spices commonly used to enhance the flavor of various dishes, the most populart of which is stuffing or dressing.

Pumpkin Pie Spice  A versatile blend of warm spices that can be used in many culinary applications beyond pumpkin pie.

Quesadilla Seasoning  Quesadilla seasoning is a versatile spice blend that can be used in many dishes beyond just quesadillas.

Ranch Dressing Mix  A powdered seasoning blend used to make ranch-style dressing or dip. Much less expensive than the packets you buy.

Rose Sugar  This sugar is delicious sprinkled on fresh berries or used in shortbread cookies that call for confectioners’ sugar. It is also wonderful in homemade lemonade.

Salad Seasoning  A versatile ingredient that can enhance a wide range of dishes beyond salads.

Sazon Seasoning  A versatile spice blend commonly used in Latin American and Caribbean cuisines.

Season It All  Use Season It All as you would salt.

Seasoned Salt A versatile seasoning blend that can enhance the flavor of many dishes.

Sloppy Joe Seasoning  A versatile spice blend that can be used in various dishes beyond traditional sloppy joes.

Smokin’ Buffalo Spice Rub  This rub adds a smoky, spicy kick perfect for grilling or smoking your favorite dishes. It’s great for wings!

Southwest Seasoning   A versatile spice blend that adds a smoky, spicy, and savory flavor to a variety of dishes.

Spaghetti Seasoning  A blend of herbs and spices used to flavor spaghetti dishes and other Italian-inspired recipes.

Sweet Potato Seasoning  A blend of spices and herbs used to enhance the natural sweetness and flavor of sweet potatoes.

Tony’s All-Purpose Famous Creole Seasoning  This is the recipe for Tony’s Seasonings by Tony Chachere. It was one of the first Creole seasonings on the market. It comes from Tony Chachere’s Cajun Country Cookbook.

Vanilla Powder  A fine, dry, powdered form of vanilla extract or vanilla beans. It is used as a flavoring agent in baking and cooking to add the sweet, aromatic flavor of vanilla.

Vegetable Broth Powder  A versatile ingredient that can enhance the flavor of many dishes.

Vegetable Seasoning   A blend of herbs, spices, and other flavorings used to enhance the taste of vegetables or vegetable-based dishes.

Wet Masala Paste  A versatile ingredient in cooking that can be used in various ways to enhance the flavor of dishes.

Yucatan Chili Spice Seasoning  Yucatán chili spice seasoning is a vibrant, flavorful blend commonly used in Mexican cuisine, especially from the Yucatán Peninsula.