Making your own Spice Blends
Spice blends are available in every store, everywhere, making it very easy to just grab and go… but did you know that making your own spice blends might be easier?
Spice blends instantly kick up the flavor in any dish, they’re super easy to use on meats or veggies, turning ordinary meals into something special with just a shake or a rub. And, blends aren’t just great for your kitchen, they also make great gifts! You can mix up something unique for your friends or family (in a dry empty jar or sealable bag)—throw in a little recipe card with your favorite way to use the spice blend, and you’ve got a thoughtful gift that encourages them to try new flavors and dishes.Here are 3 popular spice blends our chefs have whipped up for you!
Baharat:
“Baharat” means spices in Arabic, which makes sense because the baharat blend is very popular in Middle Eastern cuisine. Baharat is smoky and sweet, great in soups and stews. Also, it’s a great dry rub for meats!
2 part black peppercorns, coriander, cumin, cardamom, paprika, and cinnamon
1 part nutmeg, cloves, and allspice
Extra tip: toast and grind your own spices, and you’ll get even more bang for your buck with extra fresh & tasty flavors.
Cajun:
Cajun seasoning blend originally comes from Louisiana—the home of Cajun cuisine. It’s a spicy blend of paprika, cayenne, oregano, and other punchy spices!
1 part cayenne, oregano, onion powder, and thyme
2 parts ground pepper (black and/or white), and garlic powder
2.5 parts smoked paprika
Chinese Five spice:
Herbs and spices have been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine to restore balance in the body and prevent illness—this blend hopes to emulate that!
1 part cinnamon, anise, and Sichuan peppercorns
2 parts fennel seeds½ part cloves
Remember, play around with your own spices and the flavors you love! There are no (well, very few) rules in spice blending.
Where do RecipeKick chefs get our spices?
We love spices from our friends at:
Burlap and Barrel—Use the code OKAYPERFECT at checkout for a free 1.8oz grinder-top of Robusta Black Peppercorns with orders $15+
Diaspora
Curio Spice
