Make Your Own Spice Blends
Add Your Signature To Any Dish with Your Own Designer Spice Blends
Turn any dish, even leftovers, into something completely original by adding a spice blend you create yourself.
The spice trade spurred modern commerce as early traders guarded the secret locations of their precious wares of cinnamon, cardamon, ginger, and others. Today, lucky for us, neatly packaged spices are as easy to find as the local market.
Spices and herbs add flavor to foods, but they also distinguish a dish’s origin, from Latin to German to Asian. In the same way, your own spice blends can give your dishes a distinction that is uniquely yours.
Spice it up
Some spice blends have wonderful sounding names: “madras” is a combination of Indian spices, as is “curry”; “baharat” is a Turkish spice blend. You can call yours anything you like. How fun is that?
It's easy to get started. Just go to the pantry or to that lazy susan thingy on your countertop, and start pulling out the bottles and tins of the spices and dried herbs you like. If you're not sure if you like something, pour a little bit into your palm, wet your finger, tap your little pile of spice, and taste it. Note: you can always make spice combinations with fresh herbs, but you need to use them right away. For blends that will keep, use dried versions.
Start out small
Begin with a half-teaspoon of each, and pour into a small bowl; break up any lumps, stir with your finger or a small whisk, and taste. Most spice blends need salt and pepper. Taste again. Still not sure? Melt a little butter in a small sauce or sauté pan, add about a teaspoon of your spice blend, stir, and drizzle the warm mixture on a piece of bread. Spices open up when heated, so this experiment is a good indication of how they will taste in a hot dish. Store blends in a container, preferably glass, with a tight-fitting lid, To use when cooking, add one or two teaspoons to sauces or sprinkle over meat and vegetables as they are cooking.
Getting started
Use these recipes to motivate or inspire you, or just break out on your own.
Italian/Mediterranean Spice Blend
- 1 TBS basil
- 1 TBS oregano
- 1 TBS marjoram
- 1 TBS thyme
- 1 TBS crushed fennel seed
- 1 TBS dried lemon peel
Mix all together and store in an airtight jar or other container.
Moroccan/Turkish Spice Blend
- 1 TBS ground cumin
- 1 TBS ground coriander
- 1 TBS ground fennel
- 1 TBS ground dried mint
- 1 TBS ground cloves
- 1 TBS ground cinnamon
- 1 TBS kosher salt
- 1 TBS ground black pepper
Mix all together and store in an airtight jar or other container.
Be Adventurous
Try your new signature spice in any of these great make it your way recipes
Roasted Chicken and Potatoes Pizza
