Flakes, Powders, and Pastes

No salt with a smoky twist…

This is a spin-off of our homemade Cajun seasoning recipe for those who need a salt-free recipe option. Sure, it’s simple to simply pull salt from the original recipe, but salt surely is a flavor enhancer. We like to add something a little different to the mix to bring something special to a no-salt Cajun seasoning alternative. Here it’s a touch of chipotle pepper powder to go along with the cayenne and paprika.

This addition adds a little more spice, along with an undertone of smokiness to the Cajun seasoning. It’s these flavor additions that make this spice blend its own unique take on Cajun seasoning. Don’t want the smokiness? That’s ok, simply remove the chipotle powder from the recipe and you have a blend that’s plenty tasty ready for use! Sprinkle it over steak as a spice rub or use it with soups and dressings to rev up the flavor.

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 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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Add some flair to this Indian finishing spice…

Garam masala is typically known as a warming finishing spice, but here we turn that pungent warmth into more of a roaring fire. You can control that heat by choosing a dried red chili pepper that works best for your heat tolerance. Go mild for a simmering warmth or light things up with something extra hot. We offer some ideas below, but consider the pepper’s flavor nuances before use as they will have impact on the overall garam masala flavor.

Note, too, that garam masala is a finishing spice, perfect for spicing up the flavor of Indian dishes right before serving. It’s best not to cook with garam masala – rather use it at the end. Cooking with it tends to turn the seasoning mix bitter in flavor. 

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Add fire to the exotic flavor…

Curry powder is already a deliciously exotic seasoning, full of fragrant (and flavorful) spices. There’s typically a warmth to most any curry powder recipe you use. This recipe, though, is here to turn up that heat just a little. A tablespoon of cayenne pepper is enough for most people looking for extra heat, but you could increase the spiciness even more by using a touch of hot paprika (instead of mild or generic), too. Use this not only for curries, but also in soups, salads, and dips.

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