5-Minute Crafts
5-Minute Crafts

How to Make Your Own Seasoning

Food
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Spices have a significant place in culinary and food culture. They’re often used to give the food a different taste, aroma, and smell. Adding flavor to your meals and doing it yourself will save you a lot of money and ensure consistency in your recipes, but also it’ll provide a lot of conveniences. You can also make your blends gluten-free.

5-Minute Crafts rounded up some widely known spice blend recipes so you can mix them yourself and keep them on hand for whenever you need them.

The difference between an herb and a spice

Herbs and spices are created by using different parts of various plants. While an herb is the leafy part of the plant, like basil, rosemary, parsley, or oregano, a spice comes from the root, stem, seed, fruit, or flower of the tree or plant, cinnamon, ginger, star anise, or turmeric, for example. Sometimes, it’s possible to find both of them on the same plant, as in the case of cilantro and coriander.

Before you begin

You’ll need some mason jars with tight-fitting lids to keep your blends fresh. Plastic containers may absorb the smell of the ingredients, so they are not recommended. Additionally, you may want to have a small food processor or spice grinder, just in case. A funnel or a piece of parchment paper may be helpful to help you get your spices into jars. For each seasoning blend recipe in this article, you need to combine all of the listed ingredients and mix them well.

1. Italian seasoning blend

Good in tomato sauce, on fish or chicken, in a marinade, and on shrimp and summer veggies.

  • 4 teaspoons basil
  • 4 teaspoons oregano
  • 4 teaspoons rosemary
  • 4 teaspoons marjoram
  • 4 teaspoons thyme
  • 4 teaspoons savory
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

2. Mexican taco and fajita seasoning blend

Good in tacos, fajitas, chili, grilled chicken, kebab, and taco stuffed pepper soup.

  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 4 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons coriander
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (optional)

3. NYC’s everything bagel seasoning

  • 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons black sesame seeds
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons dried minced onions
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons dried minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds (toasted or plain)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt flakes

4. South-Asian pumpkin pie spice blend

Good in muffins, pies, baked goods, and oatmeal.

  • 4 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon ginger
  • 1 tablespoon nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon allspice
  • 2 teaspoons ground cloves

5. Indian curry powder mix

  • 1 tablespoon turmeric
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3 tablespoons coriander
  • 2 tablespoons cumin seed
  • 2 teaspoons ginger
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 to 3 teaspoons chili flakes
  • 1 whole or a pinch of ground clove

6. Chili seasoning blend

Good in soups/chili, on ground beef, and in sloppy joes.

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon paprika or smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1/2 tablespoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

7. Alaska’s ranch seasoning blend

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons parsley
  • 2 teaspoons dried dill
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt

8. Salt-free all-purpose seasoning blend

Good in roasted potatoes, veggies, scrambles, burgers, marinades, and chicken zucchini poppers.

  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon parsley
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

9. Mediterranean seasoning blend

Good in seafood, chicken, roasted veggies, and garlic herb salmon foil pockets with potatoes.

  • 2 tablespoons basil
  • 2 tablespoons oregano
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon parsley flakes
  • 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

10. Jamaican jerk seasoning blend

Suitable for grilled pork, chicken, steak, and fish.

  • 3 tablespoons dried minced onion
  • 1 tablespoon thyme
  • 1 tablespoon allspice
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

11. Louisiana’s Cajun seasoning blend

Good in burgers, pork, salmon, chicken, Cajun sausage, and veggie kabobs.

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

12. Montreal steak seasoning

  • 2 tablespoons black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons paprika (not smoked)
  • 2 tablespoons sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
  • 1 tablespoon granulated onion
  • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (use less or omit if preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 1 tablespoon dill seeds (ground)
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5-Minute Crafts/Food/How to Make Your Own Seasoning
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