Seasoning cubes and powders are quick pick-and-go food sweeteners. They ease our cooking stress. Still, some of our best meals deserve an infusion of even richer flavours. Thus, loads of empty spice jars may keep piling up.
Many of our kitchens play host to an assortment of store-bought spices and herbs. But there is a sound alternative to leaving more empty spice jars lying around.
Herbs and Spices: What are They?
Herbs are valuable plants with pungent and distinct smells and/or tastes. Many herbs are nutritious and edible, but not all.
Spices are parts of any plant - except the leaf - useful as a food additive. They are good for adding colour or flavour to food. Spices also have strong unique smells and/or tastes.
You may harvest and use herbs from your garden. To keep seasonal herbs for off-season use, dry and shred or crush them. Store each one in a big pickle jar with a tamper-proof cover. It should maintain its quality for several weeks.
How to Make a Seasoning Blend
It is best to buy dried whole spices and/or herbs in bulk from local stores. You can prepare and store sizable amounts of seasoning blends inside big pickle jar. The whole lot may serve you for up to 6 months of active use. The procedure is quite easy:
- Sterilize big pickle jar and empty spice jars ahead of the preparation. Check that they have airtight lids. The best empty spice jars you can use are those with inner shaker lids.
- Pulverize each spice in a spice or coffee grinder. Or if you have a food processor, put it to work.
- Thereafter, use a spatula or spoon to mix them in a clean bowl.
- Refill the empty spice jars with your seasoning blends. To reduce spills, use a neat funnel. Seal and label each jar with firmness.
Remember to store all your seasoning blends in cool places. Never expose them to sunlight or moisture. And avoid direct contact between raw meat and any unused seasoning. This will prevent contamination of the seasoning blend.
Top 7 Recipes for DIY Seasoning Blends
Recipes for seasoning blends are as diverse as your mind can conjure. However, there are famous blends you should have in your collection. Aside from this, you can control the amount of ingredients in your custom blends.
Here are 7 top recipes for seasoning blends you should prepare at home.
Poultry Seasoning
Use it as a rub to flavour turkey or turkey for roasting. It could be whole or cut pieces. It also goes well with casseroles, stews, and stuffings.
Enough for: 2 to 3 tablespoons
- Dried thyme: 1 ½ teaspoons
- Onion powder: 1 pinch
- Rosemary: 1 pinch
- Dried sage: 1 tablespoon
- Dried marjoram: 2 tablespoons
- Dried parsley: 2 teaspoons
- Dried savory: 2 tablespoons
Chili Blend
Good in tacos, chilis, potato, and french fries, among other dishes. It is best to start by adding half of the pepper to the mix. Then add the remainder in small amounts, each time tasting it. That way, you can choose the desired level of hotness.
Enough for 6 tablespoons
- Chili powder: 2 tablespoons
- Garlic powder: 1 teaspoon
- Onion powder: 1 teaspoon
- Ground cumin: 2 tablespoons
- Dried oregano: 2 teaspoons
- Paprika: 2 teaspoons
An alternative to using chili is to add ground cayenne pepper.
Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend
Good for many pumpkin dishes and several autumn-baked recipes.
Enough for ½ cup or 8 tablespoons
- Ground cinnamon: 4 tablespoons
- Ground ginger: 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon
- Ground nutmeg: 1 teaspoon
- Ground allspice: 2 teaspoons
- Ground cloves: 2 teaspoons
You may add between half and one teaspoon each of other optional spices. Ground cardamom, white and black peppers, and/or aniseed are choice additives.
Taco Seasoning
This seasoning blend is good for poultry or beef, and even pork.
Enough for ½ cup or 8 tablespoons
- Kosher salt: 1½ tablespoons
- Minced garlic: 2 teaspoons
- Onion powder: 2 teaspoons
- Chili powder: 4 tablespoons
- Black pepper: ¾ teaspoon
- Dried oregano: 1 teaspoon
- Ground cumin: 1 tablespoon
- Ground coriander: 1 teaspoon
Curry Powder Blend
This recipe is for Thai curry. The taste is mellow. But you may decide to use a higher or lower amount of chili. There are several other recipes for curry powder.
Enough for ½ cup or 8 tablespoons
- Ground ginger: 2 teaspoons
- Ground/whole white pepper: 1 teaspoon
- Ground/whole cumin seeds: 2 tablespoons
- Turmeric: 1 tablespoon
- Chili/cayenne pepper flakes: 1 to 3 teaspoons
- Ground/whole coriander: 3 tablespoons
- Ground cloves: A pinch
- Bay leaves: 3 of them. Remove the lower stem
BBQ Dry Rub
Good sprinkled on barbecued chicken, beef, or pork before preparation.
Enough for 1 cup or 16 teaspoons
- Chili powder: 2 teaspoons
- Paprika: ⅓ cup, or a little above 5 tablespoons
- Sugar: 4 tablespoons
- Salt: 2 tablespoons
- Cayenne pepper: ½ teaspoon
- Ground white pepper: 1 teaspoon
- Ground black pepper: 2 tablespoons, fresh-made
- Dry mustard: 2 teaspoons
Seafood Rub
A good rub for fish and other seafood before baking or grilling. You may also add other herbs. Oregano, thyme, dill, parsley, coriander, bay leaf, and lemon zest are good additives. You can vary the amounts of salt and/or pepper according to your needs.
Enough for ⅔ cup or about 11 tablespoons
- Ground black pepper: 1 tablespoon
- Cayenne pepper: ½ teaspoon
- Kosher salt: 1 tablespoon
- Celery salt: 2 tablespoons
- Allspice: ½ teaspoon
- Ground ginger: 2 teaspoons
- Dried minced garlic: 4 teaspoons
- Nutmeg: ½ teaspoon
- Dry mustard: 1 teaspoon
- Paprika: 2 teaspoons
Conclusion
When you make seasoning blends for yourself, you gain more. It is an opportunity to use fresh ingredients. Again, you can get the desired combination of tastes. Above all, you can make quantities large enough to keep for several months.
To this end, employ those big pickle jars lying unused around the house. Transfer smaller quantities of the seasoning blend into empty spice jars.