By Erin Odom, Contributing Writer
Are you working to ditch processed foods and put more real food on the table? We’re running a series called Real Food Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide to Eating Better. Our goal is to answer the questions you might have and make the transition a whole lot easier!
Even before I started cooking from scratch, I started making my own homemade spice mixes.
At first, it was out of pure laziness. I don’t like to shop. Even before I had kids, I didn’t like to run out to the grocery store for an item or two on my ingredient list if I could avoid it. And, hence, I started making things at home.
The very first spice mix for me to make on my own was taco seasoning. I think back then I googled a recipe, and when I realized I had all the ingredients on hand, I was elated.
The next time I was at the store, I checked the ingredient list on the back of the taco seasoning mix I normally purchased. Surely the ingredients would be the same, right?
Wrong.
The food labels on the bulk of store-bought seasoning mixes are full of fillers, preservatives and other unwanted fake flavor enhancers. These ingredients include:
- modified food starch (a thickener, often derived from GMO sources but not always),
- sugar,
- partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (trans fat and often made from a GMO oil sources, such as cottonseed, canola or soybean),
- MSG (including “hidden” MSG under other names)
- hidden gluten (dangerous for those with a gluten intolerance or celiac disease)
- natural flavorings (So what’s the big deal here? Read this.)
- silicon dioxide (to prevent caking–not necessarily bad but an additive to know about nonetheless)
- spices (This sounds innocent…but what exactly are these anonymous “spices”?),
- and more.
After learning that store-bought spice mixes aren’t always so wholesome, I committed to making my seasonings at home–for both convenience and health reasons.
How to Make Your Own
Seriously, making your own spice mixes is probably the easiest kitchen task you will ever do.
Supplies Needed:
- single ingredient herbs and spices
- measuring spoons
- glass jars (Depending on how much you want to mix up, anything from an old baby food jar to a canning jar will work.)
Method:
Simply combine all the individual spices together in a jar, shake the jar and–voila!–you have your spice mixes!
I have sometimes gotten in the rut of making just what I needed per meal at the time I am cooking. This is inconvenient and tags extra time onto dinner prep. I now mix up a whole canning jar at once, label the top with the ingredients needed to fill the jar as well as with the amounts needed in recipes I make frequently.
But what if you don’t have all the single-ingredient herbs and spices?
No problem! Check out this handy list of herb and spice substitutions.
Homemade Spice Mixes
And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for: check out this full line-up of homemade spice mixes! I’ve also included some recipes that call for these mixes. Your family will thank you for never entering the spice mix aisle of the grocery store again!
Allspice Alternative
Use in:
- Cincinnati Chili
- Chocolate Chili (Yes, chocolate!)
Apple Pie Spice Mix
Use in:
- Slow Cooker Brown Rice Pudding
- 3-2-1 Custard (Paleo Breakfast)
Cajun Seasoning
Use in:
- Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
- Easy Oven-Roasted Potatoes
Chili Powder
Use in:
- Southwest Taco Soup
- The BEST Chili Recipe Ever
Image by Whole New Mom
Cinnamon Sugar
Use to:
- sprinkle on toast or other baked goods
- sprinkle in oatmeal
Curry Powder
Use in:
- Curried Butternut Squash Soup
- Pan-Seared Curried Cod
Dry Creamed Soup Spice Mix
Use in any recipe that calls for a “cream-of” soup.
Image by Stacy Makes Cents
“Emeril’s Essence” Seasoning Blend
Use in:
- Grilled Shrimp Kabobs
- Sauteed Sea Scallops
Garlic Salt
Use in:
- Pantry Salsa
- Easiest Garlic Bread Recipe
Italian Seasoning
Use in:
- Italian Salad Dressing
- Italian Cream Cheese Chicken Casserole
Image by The Nourishing Home
Lemon Pepper
Use in:
- Crock Pot Creamy Lemon Pepper Chicken
- as a seasoning on steamed or sauteed veggies–or even in a stir-fry
Poultry Seasoning
Use in:
- Crock Pot Stuffing
- Breakfast Sausage
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Use in:
- Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Breakfast Bars
- Pumpkin Spice Doughnut Holes
Image by Day2Day Joys
Ranch Dip Mix
Use in:
- as a dip for Healthy Chicken Nuggets
- Ranch Cheddar Chicken
(Here’s another good ranch dip mix recipe!)
Sausage Seasoning
Use it in:
- Sausage Potato Casserole
- Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
Taco Seasoning
Use in:
- Tortilla Soup
- Simple Quesadillas
Image by Your Thriving Family
Tumeric Newari Spice
Use in:
- Spicy Fried Chicken
- other Nepali or South Asian dishes
Need more inspiration? I’m constantly adding to my spices/sauces/dips/dressing board on Pinterest. You can follow me here.
Two other helpful resources for all things homemade, including many condiments, sauce and more are the recipe ebooks Easy. Homemade. and also Restocking the Pantry.
Note: Even some single-ingredient spices contain hidden fillers! Be sure to carefully read the food labels and call the manufacturer if necessary. Many health food stores and co-ops sell spices in bulk. The Bulk Herb Store and Mountain Rose Herbs are two online stores that sell quality herbs and spices.
Other posts in the series:
Real Food Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide to Eating Better
First Steps to Real Food
What Is Real Food?
Cutting Your Kitchen Prep Time in Half — Or More!
Confessions of a Formerly Picky Eater
How to Read Food Labels
The Grain Controversy: Should We Eat Them or Not?
Second Steps Towards Eating Real Foods: Switching Your Food Sources
Sweeteners: How They Affect You, Which Ones are Best, and How to Use Them
Simple Steps to Begin Cooking Homemade: Pantry Staples
5 Strategies to Help Your Husband and Kids Transition to Real Food
7 Foods to Avoid
Finding Real Food in the Grocery Store
20 Easy Real Food Switches and Substitutions {with Free Printable Chart}
First Steps to Eating for Fertility
Keeping Costs Down in a Real Food Kitchen
Raising Kids on Real Food
Food Is Not Cheap: 4 Steps to Budgeting in Real Food
Simple Steps to Begin Cooking Homemade: Baked Goods
Simple Roast Chicken (And Fabulous Side Dish Recipes!)
5 Ways Green Living and Real Food are Connected
Simple Steps to Begin Cooking Homemade: Soups, Sauces, and Simple Dinners
