Flakes, Powders, and Pastes

 A quick mix for that Tex-Mex taste…

Need a quick spice rack mix to liven up your tacos, burritos, or fajitas? Let’s hit that spice rack. This extra spicy southwest seasoning takes only six exceptionally common spices and blends them into a simple, yet tasty Tex-Mex blend.

Don’t only look at Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine, this southwest seasoning is also delicious as a quick and dirty chicken or steak rub to add a boost of flavor and heat. Cayenne pepper provides the pow in this recipe, and you can adjust to your heat tolerance – but note, a little goes a long way. Ramp up with care.

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An exotic Indian seasoning…

There are a few lightly fiery seasonings that are musts for authentic Indian cuisine, and sambar powder is among one of the most important. It’s used to make sambar, a delicious lentil-based soup that’s often a precursor (or a side) to the main Indian meal. Sambar powder, too, can be a substitute to rasam powder for making rasam – a thin soup that’s typically served atop rice.

In both cases, it’s the popular Indian kashmiri chili that provides a light simmer of heat. These are mild peppers (1,000 to 2,000 Scoville heat units), but enough are called for in the recipe that you’ll feel the spiciness. 

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A delicious and surprisingly versatile Indian spice…

If you love the exotic flavors of Indian cuisine, then you’ll certainly love using a tandoori masala spice mix in the kitchen. This seasoning is delicious and surprisingly versatile. You can use it, of course, for the traditional Indian yogurt-based tandoori marinade. But try it as well sprinkled on vegetables (we love it on fried potatoes). Or use it as a simple meat rub, as a burger spice, or even as a salad seasoning.

Paprika provides a little simmering heat, but there’s some additional cayenne pepper powder in the recipe to up the spiciness. Feel free to use whole spices that are ground fresh rather than spice rack powders. They’ll provide a more aromatic and flavorful spice mix.

If you like exotic seasoning with a little heat, don’t miss some more of our favorite seasoning recipes: berbere spice mix, harissa seasoning, and ras el hanout. Or turn the ever-popular Sriracha sauce into a delicious spicy seasoning with our Sriracha powder recipe.

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Ready for a smokier taco?

If you’re a fan of smoky flavor, prepping up a chipotle taco seasoning before taco night will make you very happy. This spice blend uses common spice rack ingredients and brings the smoke through both chipotle powder and smoked paprika. We kick in a little cayenne pepper to increase the overall heat just a touch.

Don’t limit this tasty seasoning to tacos. You can use it anywhere taco of Mexican seasoning is called for to add a little south-of-the-border flare to your meal. It’s delicious simply mixed with ranch dressing for a quick dip or use it as a dry rub on chicken, pork, or steak to add a smoky, earthy heat.

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