Spice Blends

There is certainly no limit on how spices can be blended, and perhaps you have a copy of your grandma's pickling spices  or Uncle Joe's magic barbecue blend.  For some purposes, however, certain blends of spices and herbs have become particularly popular, and it's always handy having a couple on hand. Having a good all-purpose blend on hand (something like Mrs. Dash  or just some herbes de Provence ) can jazz up everything from mashed potatoes to steak to green beans. Certain blends can also add particular ethnic flavors to food, such as a blend of Moroccan spices like ras el hanout.   Keep in mind that no two spice merchants will produce exactly the same blend, so you may need to try a few before you find a version that you like best. Some blends may also contain salt, in varying quantities; if you prefer to closely control the amount of salt in your food, look for salt-free or low-sodium versions of your favorite blend.

Adobo - Herbes de Provence

Adobo Powder  Adobo powder  is a mixture of salt, garlic, oregano, turmeric, and often black pepper. Some blends have reduced sodium,  lime,  lemon  or orange  flavoring, or hot pepper ; you can also get adobo "sin pimiento"  or without black pepper.	Baharat  Baharat  is a spice blend used in the Middle East (especially Lebanon, Syria, Jordan). It usually includes allspice, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, nutmeg and paprika.	Bouquet Garni  Bouquet garni  is a bundle of herbs and spices used to flavor soups and stocks as they cook and removed before serving. There is no set recipe, but commonly it includes parsley, bay leaves, thyme, and peppercorns.	Curry Powder  Curry powder  was invented by the British to mimic the spice blends used in Indian cooking. It commonly includes coriander, cumin, turmeric and fenugreek, but ginger, garlic, nutmeg, red pepper, and black pepper are all common additions.	Fines Herbes  A French blend of green herbs  (as opposed to the more pungent flavors of bouquet garni) added at the end of cooking. Parsley, chives, tarragon and chervil are the most common ingredients, although lemon balm or marjoram may be used as well.

Five-Spice Powder  Chinese five-spice powder  is a fragrant blend of anise, cinnamon, star anise, ginger, and cloves. Hot pepper is sometimes added. It is used to flavor stir-fries and other dishes.	Gomashio  Gomashio  is a Japanese seasoning made of roasted sesame seeds and salt. Garlic or seaweed flakes  are sometimes included as well.	Garam Masala  There are many variations on garam masala  ("warm spices"), but the most often included ingredients are cinnamon, cumin, cardamom, cloves, caraway and nutmeg.	Harissa  Harissa  is a paste of hot chili peppers, garlic, coriander, caraway and cumin. It is a common ingredient and condiment in North African cuisine. It's very hot, go cautiously!	Herbes de Provence  While Provençal cooking has used certain herbs  for a long time, this set mixture is relatively new to the market. Usually includes rosemary, marjoram, basil, bay leaf, thyme, and lavender.

Jerk Spices - Za'atar

Jerk Spices  Jamaican jerk spices  rely on two primary flavors: allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers (the hottest you can get!). Cloves, cinnamon, scallions, nutmeg, thyme and garlic are sometimes used as well.	Lemon Pepper  Lemon pepper  is made from black pepper and lemon zest. It is sometimes enhanced with other seasonings, including salt, onion, garlic, and hot pepper. Very popular on chicken.	Mulling Spices  Mulling spices  are whole or large pieces of spices added to simmering apple cider to give it a spicy flavor and aroma. They generally include cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, nutmeg, star anise, and allspice.	Pumpkin Pie Spice  Used to flavor a favorite autumn dessert, pumpkin pie spice  typically includes cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice, and mace. Also a tasty addition to chocolate chip cookies  and oatmeal.	Quatre Épices  Quatre épices  is a French spice blend consisting of pepper, cloves, nutmeg and ginger. It is also frequently used in Middle Eastern cooking.

Ras el Hanout  Ras el hanout,  which means, "head of the shop" in Arabic, is a blend with no set ingredients and varies from shop to shop. Common ingredients are cardamom, clove, cinnamon, chilis, coriander, cumin, peppercorns and turmeric, but some blends may have as many as one hundred spices!	Recado Rojo  This Mexican blend, also known as achiote rojo,  is a specialty of the Yucatan peninsula. It usually includes annatto, Mexican oregano, cumin, clove, cinnamon, black pepper, allspice, garlic, and salt. The annatto gives the mixture, and any food flavored with it, a bright red color.	Shichimi  Shichimi  is short for the Japanese for "seven-flavored chili pepper." It contains chili pepper, of course, flavored with orange peel, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, hemp seeds, nori, and a Japanese spice called sansho.	Tandoori Masala  Tandoori masala  refers to the spices used to make dishes in a tandoor,  a clay oven used in Indian cooking. Tandoori masala contains garam masala, garlic, ginger, cumin, cayenne, lemon juice, and other seasonings. The spice mixtures is often mixed with yogurt  to marinate chicken, fish or lamb.	Za'atar  Za'atar  is a Middle Eastern spice blend consisting mainly of ground sesame seeds, salt, thyme, marjoram and oregano. Mint and sage are also used occasionally. It is a popular topping for labne,  or yogurt cheese, and on pita bread.

Brand Names

A few brand-name blends have become popular nationwide, in whatever nation they originated! Here are a few of the best known.

Mrs. Dash  The original Mrs. Dash  was developed in the 1980s as a salt-free seasoning blend and features onion, pepper, parsley, celery seed, basil, bay leaf, marjoram, oregano, savory, thyme, coriander, cayenne pepper, cumin, mustard seed, rosemary, garlic, carrot, orange peel, tomato and lemon juice. It is also available in several flavors, including Lemon Pepper,  Southwest Chipotle,  Tomato Basil Garlic,  and Table Blend.	Old Bay Seasoning  A traditional blend used to flavor foods, especially seafoods, in the Chesapeake Bay area. Contains bay leaf, celery salt, mustard seed, black pepper, red pepper, ginger, and cinnamon. While Old Bay  is traditionally used on crabs and shrimp, it's great on just about anything. You can even find "crab seasoning" potato chips!  Try it on French fries, popcorn, chicken, vegetables, or just about anything else.	Maggi  Maggi is a European company that manufactures a line of sauces and spice blends. Their best known produce, Maggi sauce, is similar to soy sauce but contains no actual soy. They also produce a line of chicken and beef flavored boullion cubes.

Related Products

Spices	Culinary Herbs	Spice Racks	Spice Grinders	Indoor Herb Gardens

International Resources

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DE: Gewürzmischungen