Making your own custom spice blends is an affordable way to add flavor to your meals. This basic spice blend is a great all-purpose mix to add to your spice cupboard!
Truth: you don’t need a lot of money to eat well.
Truth: you don’t even need a lot of ingredients to prepare a delicious meal.
Truth: you can prepare a basic spice blend with just five ingredients and use it all week long to add dramatic flavor to the simplest of dishes, making them absolutely delicious and not so so-so.
Here’s how:
Basic Spice Blend
I love making my own spice blends. I find that I can make my own seasoning mixes cheaper, tastier, and healthier than commercial blends. No thank you to excess sodium, preservatives, anti-caking agents, and who knows what else. I keep a few jars in my cupboard for adding flavor to main dish proteins, salad dressings, vegetables, and even homebred breads.
One of my favorite homemade seasoning mixes is this Basic Spice Blend. It really is basic — only five ingredients — but it packs a punch.
What are basic spices to keep on hand?
Like I said, it’s amazing what a few spices can do to the simplest ingredients. Basic spices to keep on hand in your cupboard include the following:
- salt
- pepper (ground and whole peppercorns)
- garlic powder
- paprika (smoked and sweet)
- onion powder
- dried herbs, such as basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary
- ground cumin
- ground turmeric
- cayenne
- crushed red pepper
I combined five basic spices into this amazing spice blend. It’s super versatile. I use this Basic Spice Blend in marinades, on roasts, in stew, and in skillet mixtures. It’s all-purpose, simple to make, and so delicious!
What are uses for basic spice blend?
This spice blend is a great, all-purpose mix. You can use it as a rub for grilled meats or for tossing with cut potatoes or oven fries prior to baking.
I like to use it in these recipes:
How do you save money on spices?
There are several ways that you can save money on spices:
- Buy in bulk as the unit price on large bags or canisters of herbs and spices is less than when you buy it in a small jar. Split the purchase with a friend or two if you don’t want to buy a lot.
- Store herbs and spices in the freezer to extend their shelf life. Stored at room temperature, they should be replaced every six months.
- Check to see if your local health food store allows you to scoop out your own from bulk canisters. You can buy just enough to use for a few weeks if you don’t want to load up.
Keep a jar of this on hand at all times. Once you taste it, you will not want to be without it. And it really takes just seconds to mix up. Don’t believe me? Watch!
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Basic Spice Blend
This basic spice blend is a great all-purpose mix to add punch and flavor to soups, stews, roasts, and grilled meats.
Servings: 6 tablespoons
Calories: 15kcal
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Notes
Nutritional values are approximate and are based on 1 tablespoon of the recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 15kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1166mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1175IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
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