Make Your Own Spice Blends and Spice Pastes
Create Fabulous Tasting Food Every Time by Mixing Unique Blends
Feb 22, 2009
Most grocery stores have a limited variety of spice blends for the home cook. Also, the prices for some of these specialty blends can be somewhat on the expensive side for most people. The advantage of creating a spice mix or spice paste is that it allows individuals to concoct their own signature blend suited to their taste and is more affordable.
If using whole spices to make a blend, a coffee grinder is commonly used. The unit is inexpensive to purchase and does a great job of crushing whole spices. However, use this for only this purpose, as the flavors tend to linger.
Get Spicy With Ethnic Seasonings
To make a blend that is different, think outside of the box. Traditionally, bottled seasonings are based upon common spices. Why not try a unique spice such as galangal? This spice is very similar tasting to ginger but has a much more intense flavor. Another spice maybe worth experiencing is sumac. This spice is used frequently in Mediterranean cuisine, often used alone or mixed with sesame seeds and thyme leaves. The flavor of this spice is tart like lemon but is less acidic and has a soft cherry color adding visual appeal to a dish. The spice may be helpful in creating a different twist to a hummus recipe.
Explore stores that carry large quantities by going to an ethnic store in a nearby town. For people who can’t find an ethnic store in their own area, try ordering online at Penzeys.com, a reliable source offering over 250 spices, herbs and seasonings.
Here is a delicious blend using Mexican spices. Try it on baked chicken, grilled steak or shrimp.
Mexican Spice Blend
- 2 tablespoons of crushed red pepper
- 2 tablespoons of ground chipolte pepper
- 1 tablespoon of kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon of Mexican oregano
- 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon of dried cilantro
Mix all of the ingredients and store in an airtight container.
Get Spicy-Make a Spice Paste
What’s the difference between a spice blend and spice paste? A spice blend is a mixture of different spices. A spice paste however is a mixture of ground spices in addition to aromatics to boost the flavor even more. Such aromatics can be garlic, herbs, hot peppers, scallions, ginger and a little oil to create a paste. Spices pastes are used to give flavor for all kinds of meat including seafood and fish. What’s great about a spice paste is that it imparts wonderful flavor without having to marinade for a long period of time and creates a delightful crust to the cooked meat.
When creating a spice paste, use a food processor or blender. Use the pulse function first to roughly chop the aromatic ingredients until it comes together and then slowly drizzle in the oil. Place the mixture in a jar in the refrigerator for later use. This seasoned blend will last for about two weeks.
For more ideas to making these kind of recipes visit Wikihow.com.
By making a collection of spice blends and spice pastes, the home cook will have the ability to produce outstanding tasting food anytime of the week.
References: Penzeys.com Wikihow.com
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