9 Easy Homemade Spice Blends that are Natural and Good for your Health
Have you ever eaten a meal and woken up the next morning with puffy eyes and red cheeks? I have and it’s not only unpleasant but downed right annoying that there can be so many harmful additives and chemicals in our foods, including spices! We really need to read the labels before purchasing OR make our own at home. Store bought spice blend recipes can be laden with artificial colors, flavor enhancers and preservatives, all of which may be harmful to our health. Sometimes I wonder why I don’t stick only with kale and all its benefits for health.
Spices add flavor to your food, and the right blend of spices will transform an ordinary bland recipe, into a exotic melange of flavors that will not only lift the dish but also your spirits! Here are some easy to make homemade spice blends that will go with most common recipes in your home. They can also transform your BBQ recipes into magic! Experiment what you like, just place on meat or vegetables. I like to use a manual Poppy Seed Grinder to grind my dry spices as this gives an excellent result in my experience. Just ground them down and store in a small jar or spice bottle.
1. Cajun Spice Blend
This spice blend is the X-factor behind those awesome Louisiana style Jambalaya, Gumbo and Crawfish dishes. To make your own Homemade Cajun Style Spice blend mix the following ingredients together:
2 tablespoon Cumin, 2 tablespoon Coriander seeds, 2 tablespoon Paprika, 1 ½ tablespoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 ½ tablespoon salt and Cayenne pepper to taste.
2. Greek Spice Mix
The Greek love to focus on their vegetables, bread and meat in their cuisine, and do not like to over spice their dishes. For the Greek, spices should enhance the flavors of the ingredients, rather than overpower them. Here is a simple homemade Greek spice blend that will bring that authentic Greek flavor to your Moussaka and Fassolada:
Mix together 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon dried basil, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 ½ teaspoon dried parsley, 1 ½ teaspoon dried rosemary, 1 ½ teaspoon dried thyme, 3/4th teaspoon dried nutmeg powder and 1 table spoon salt.
3. Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend
Pumpkin Pie is such a classic fall and thanksgiving favorite, that’s made in homes all over America. If you want your pumpkin pie to taste out of this world, then this homemade pumpkin pie spice blend is just the thing you need!
Mix together 1/4th cup ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoon ground ginger, 2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 2 teaspoon all spice and 1 teaspoon ground cloves.
4. Lemon Pepper Mix
This is such a simple spice blend that by itself can lift any chicken, fish, tofu or salad recipe.
To make this unbelievably simple spice blend, all you need to do is to mix together fresh zest from 3 lemons, 2 ½ tablespoon black pepper and 2 tablespoon salt, and you are ready to roll!
5. Curry Spice Blend
Indian Curries are such an exotic blend of spices that come together in a wonderful burst of flavor with every mouthful! Be it chicken curry, mutton curry or a vegetable curry, you will never go wrong with this authentic, homemade curry spice blend.
Mix together 2 tablespoon cumin powder, 2 tablespoon ground coriander seeds, 2 tablespoon turmeric powder, 1 ½ teaspoon ground cardamom, ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, and you have the most potent curry spice blend ever.
6. Italian Spice blend
Whether it is Arrabbiata, Alfredo or Pizza sauce, all Italian dishes have that classic basil, oregano and thyme taste that we all love. Whether you are making pastas, lasagna or pizza at home, this homemade Italian spice blend will bring that classic Italian flavor to all your recipes.
Mix together 2 tablespoon dried basil, 2 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon dried rosemary and 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder and 1 tablespoon of salt, and your homemade Italian spice blend is ready.
7. Chili Spice Seasoning
Chili is a classic American dish that has aficionados arguing about the right recipe, whether to add beans or tomatoes and so on. Whether you like it with your hot dog or burger or just plain with tortilla chips, you are a chili cook worth your salt only if you have your Chili seasoning blend figured out right.
For the classic Chili seasoning blend, mix together 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander, 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4th teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon regular paprika, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika and ½ teaspoon salt.
8. Taco Seasoning
Mexican recipes and Tacos just isn’t complete without some type of tasty Taco spice blend. Mix 2 tablespoons chili powder, 2 tablespoons cumin, 1 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (if you like it hot) 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano.
9. Indian Spice Blend
Mix 1 teaspoon ground mustard seeds (any color), 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin seeds, 1/4 teaspoon hing (aka asafetida, or use substitute of garlic and/or onion powder) 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, 1/2 tsp salt (give or take a little), 1 teaspoon ground cumin and 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander.
Infographic Source: WomensHealthMag
