DIY Spice Mixes

Posted On January 6, 2019

It is so easy to make DIY spice mixes.

When you make your own, you have the ability to adjust spices to suit your own palate, and they make great gifts too! Gift giving doesn’t just end with the holidays, who doesn’t like a home made gift of spice for their birthday, a house-warming, a party favor, or just to say you love someone! Great way to teach the kids all about flavor! Get them to help, great way to say thank you to teachers and coaches.

All you need is a no stick skillet and a coffee grinder. Coffee grinders are inexpensive enough that you can keep one just for spices. Unless you like your coffee to taste like curry!

Don’t throw away the jars from your store bought spices, they’re perfect for storing your DIY mixtures! They even come with shaker tops. If you reuse the exact ones you make, you don’t even need to label them!

Here are a few of my favorites DIY spice blends that I make regularly.

Italian Seasoning

Excellent seasoning for all recipes that call for, I like to use it for just about everything Italian or not! Store in an airtight container; it keeps for about 12 weeks. You can use fresh herbs you dry yourself, or store bought dried herbs – of course, the ones you grow and dry yourself are better!”

2 tablespoons dried basil

2 tablespoons dried oregano

2 tablespoons dried rosemary

2 tablespoons dried marjoram

2 tsp dried savory

2 tsp dried sage

1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Mix in small bowl and store in jar in dark, cool, place.

Before adding the spices to your dish, crush them in your hand to release the oils.

Check out my Make it your way Italian salad dressing recipe!

Adobo Seasoning

Use to season meats, rice and soup for a quick zing of flavor!

1 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 teaspoon ground garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground coriander

2 teaspoon onion powder

Mix and store in cool, dark place.

Garam Masala

This is a pretty expensive spice mix to buy premade, but if you have these spices in your pantry, it’s cheaper and easy to make it your way! Use this in all your Indian recipes.

2 tablespoons coriander seeds

1 tablespoon cumin seeds

1 tablespoon cardamom seeds

1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns

1 teaspoon fennel seed

1 teaspoon mustard seed

1/2 teaspoon whole cloves

2 dried red chile peppers, seeds discarded, or 1 tsp dry chili flakes

2 tablespoons ground turmeric

Combine the coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cardamom seeds, peppercorns, fennel seeds, mustard seeds, cloves, and red chile peppers in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Toast until fragrant and seeds start to pop, stir frequently and watch it. You don’t want the spices to burn, about 2 minutes.

Grind in a coffee grinder or spice mill to a fine powder. Add the turmeric, and process to combine. Use immediately, or store in a sealed jar for up to 2 months.

Thai Curry Powder

Use this as a spice rub for grilling chicken, pork or beef. Add to stir-fry sauce to make an exotic Thai experience!

Makes about 1/2 cup.
3 bay leaves

2 tbsp cumin seed

2 tsp peppercorns, white is best, but black will do.

1 whole clove

1-3 tsp chili flakes, depending on how spicy you want your curry powder

1 tbsp ground turmeric

2 tsp. Ground ginger

Toast the whole spices in a dry nonstick skillet over medium heat. If you prefer to toast your chili flakes, add them toward the end of toasting the other spices, as they will burn pretty quickly. Stir constantly until pan is very hot and you start to smell the fragrances. Reduce heat to medium and continue toasting spices and stirring for about 5 more minutes, until they start to brown. You have to watch them carefully, as you don’t want them to burn. If they do, you will have to start over with fresh spices. With some practice, you’ll see what’s right and wrong!

When toasted, pour onto a plate to cool. This will allow the spices to cool quickly, and not let them cook anymore. Mix in the ground spices and chili flakes if you didn’t toast them.

When cool, place in your coffee grinder, and grind to a smooth powder. You may have to do this in batches depending on the size of your grinder.

Use on chicken, pork or beef as a dry rub before grilling or roasting. Add to egg or chicken salad, put some in a vinaigrette for a quick Thai salad dressing. The uses are endless!

Curry Powder:

This is a basic curry seasoning you can use when ever your recipe calls for curry powder. Works for any kind of curry.

1 tbsp turmeric

2 tsp coriander

1-1/2 tsp cumin

3/4 tsp ground mustard

1/2 tsp cardamom

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 or more tsp cayenne

Mix well and store in jar in cool, dark place.

 

Southwest Spice

Try this spice mix on any of your favorite meats for your next barbecue. Makes enough for about 2-3 pounds of meat. You can also use it for salad dressings.

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp garlic powder

1 tbsp onion powder

1 tbsp smoked paprika

2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp chipotle powder

1/2 tsp cayenne if you like it extra spicy! Be careful, the chipotle has a kick!

Mix all spices, double or triple for storage, Store in a cool, dark place.

Taco Seasoning

Double this recipe on your prep Sunday. Store in a cool, dry place. Use on your taco meat next Taco Tuesday. No preservatives necessary!

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp garlic powder

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp ground pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp oregano

Mix all spices, double or triple for storage, Store in a cool, dark place.

Sausage spice mix

I know this is a weird addition to spice mix recipes, but try it! you might surprise yourself!

Ingredients

2 tsp dried parsley

2 tsp Italian seasoning

1 1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp fennel seed, crush the seeds slightly with the side of a chef’s knife)

1/2 tsp paprika

1 tsp chili flakes

2 tsp salt

1 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp minced dried onions or 1 tsp onion powder

1-2 tsp chili flakes if you like hot sausage flavor

Mix the spices in a bowl. Add this to ground pork, beef or turkey, or dry rub steak with the mix before grilling. Use this mix to make Tofu Reuben Sandwiches. I use this spice mix to flavor the tofu before I fry it! Double or triple the recipe to store. If you do, use the garlic and onion powder, as fresh will not keep well.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

This is my favorite spice mix as I love everything pumpkin. It’s pretty good with apples too!

This is just a starter list of spice mixes. Come back often as I will be adding more as I make my own blends. Let me know if you need a particular spice blend for a dish you want to make and I’ll come up with one for you.

Thanks! Jeanette