Homemade spice mixes are the perfect last minute gift for the foodie in your life. Very quick to pull together, cheap to make, and so versatile. Never be caught without a gift again.
Homemade spice mixes are the perfect last minute gift. They are very quick, and usually very cheap, to make. Package a variety of spice mixes in glass bottles or jars, add a bottle of good olive oil, and you have a lovely foodie gift with minimal effort.
To keep costs down when making large amounts of spice mixes, try to purchase spices from a bulk supplier. Choose one with a high turnover, which will ensure the spices are fresh. I like to grind my spices in a dedicated coffee grinder as I think this produces the finest grind. I have also made large quantities in a blender or food processor with great success.
To make life just that little bit easier, I have put together this handy list of homemade spice mixes, all of which would make an excellent gift. Or even just a wonderful addition to your own pantry.
1. Dukkah: Great as an appetiser, paired with good olive oil and bread for dipping. I also use dukkah to coat meats for grilling or as a seasoning for lamb koftas.
2. Homemade Spice Mix: A good general purpose seasoning. Use it to rub over chicken before roasting, or to season a meat before grilling.
3. Everything Seasoning: Perfect for everything. Sprinkle over poached eggs, mix with cream cheese to slather on bagels, or mix it with butter for fresh popcorn. {Image: Sprinkles and Sprouts}
4. DIY Gluten Free Taco Seasoning Mix: Most packaged taco mix is full of fillers and additives. Allow the spices to shine by making your own. {Image: Bless Her Heart Y’All}
5. Aaron’s Mexican Dry Adobo Seasoning: A fusion of Mexican and American spices. Use it as a dry rub, for seasoning stews and chillis or for adding a little spice to black bean soup. {Image: skinnytaste.com}
6. Homemade Fajita Seasoning: Traditional fajitas without the chemicals and additives. Or stir this mix into chillis, rub over chicken or use it to spice up chilli. {Image: Chocolate Moosey}
7. Jamaican Jerk Seasoning: Treat yourself to some true jerk chicken in the comfort of your own home. Use as either a dry rub or wet marinade. {Image: Immaculate Bites}
8. Seafood Rub: Fabulous to quickly pep up fish or shrimp. {Image: Get Healthy U}
9. Cajun Spice Mix: Add to any dish that calls for bold seasoning or a flavour boost. Pair it with fish, chicken, potatoes or anything that takes your fancy. {Image: Mom on Time Out}
10. Tuscan Herb Spice Mix: Add to pasta sauces, homemade breads or even just scatter it over homemade pizza. Toss vegetables in the mix prior to roasting or use it to marinade meat. {Image: The Comfort of Cooking}
11. Homemade Italian Seasoning: An extremely handy spice to have in the cupboard.Sprinkle it into pasta sauces and stews. Add it to pizza sauce or scatter it over steamed vegetables to give them a little boost. {Image: Vegan in the Freezer}
12. Herbes de Provence: I use this tasty spice mix to quickly season chicken pieces before roasting. It is also great added to long simmering soups and stews. {Image: cook eat paleo}
13. Moroccan Ras el Hanout Spice Mix: Use this amazing spice mix to perk up a chicken tagine, or to coat lamb prior to grilling. {Image: Honest Cooking}
14. Classic Lebanese Zaatar Spice Mix: Scatter over oiled flatbread, hummus, salads or anything else that needs a zesty hit. {Image: Kevin is Cooking}
15. Baharat: This spice mix is great in kebabs, koftas and other Middle Eastern dishes. {Image: Global Table Adventure}
16. Homemade Garam Masala Powder: A staple of Indian Cooking. I have tried many pre-purchased blends over the years, but a homemade mix is far better. {Image: Veg Inspirations}
17. Chai Ka Masala: If you know a chai tea drinker, then a jar of this spice mix would make the perfect gift. Chai tea is easy to buy, but will never be as good as a cup of chai made with fresh spices. {Image: Whisk Affair}
18. Pickling Spice Blend: Know someone that makes their own pickles? A jar or two of this homemade pickling spice will be well received. {Image: Curbstone Valley Farm}
19. Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning: A perennial favourite that pairs particularly well with chicken. {Image: The Rising Spoon}
20. Pasta Salad Seasoning Mix: This seasoning mix is new to me but this pasta salad is likely to go into high rotation this summer. {Image: Tastes of Lizzy T’s}
21. Homemade Old Bay Style Seasoning: Great with seafood and chicken. {Image: Sprinkles and Sprouts}
What a wonderful array of spice mixes… perfect for the pantry and as edible gifts! Compliments of the season to you xx
Thank you Liz. I am a huge fan of homemade spice mixes. Have a fantastic Christmas & New Year.
What a wonderful round-up of homemade spices! I’ve heard lots of good things about Dukkah lately so I will have to check that out. Thanks so much for including my lemon pepper seasoning. 🙂
Thank you Elaina. Dukkah is amazing stuff. Fantastic with olive oil and bread. I had a tough time choosing which of your recipes to include 😉
I am visiting all of these, I love homemade spice blends 🙂
They may not all make it to my Christmas hampers but they will all make it to my cupboard.
Thank you for including two of my recipes 🙂
Pleasure Claire. I’m so with you. Having a few spice mixes in the cupboard makes it so much easier to get dinner made quickly.
Bless your heart for sharing all these wonderful spices and seasonings.I have a college degree BUT can´t tell what these strange additives are in most of what we buy. I can´t pronounce them either! I know you spent countless hours making these and you were generous enough to share on line.You are a special person. I will think of you when I use them. And that will be often! Thank you, Barb
Thanks for your lovely comments Barb but I cannot take all the credit. This is an assembly of recipes from some very talented bloggers, and I hope you find some ideas that become firm favourites.
Thank you for sharing these wonderful spice blend.. Amazing blends of spices..
Pleasure Zami. There are some very talented people in this round-up. And some great blends. Enjoy!
I am looking for a better seasoning recipe for that great winter sauce, ‘beef stroganoff’
Hi RC. I have never seen a seasoning recipe for Beef stroganoff. I have only ever made it from scratch, so unfortunately I can’t help you with this one. I wish you well on your search.
I’m a little confused well a lot of these sound interesting I can’t seem to find the recipe to make things unless I’m missing a link somewhere
Hi Wanda. Each of the spice mixes is linked to the recipe. So just click on the title of the spice mix you are interested in and it will take you straight to the recipe. This is a collection of mixes by some fantastic bloggers, so you will discover some fabulous recipes.
I am new to making my own spices mixes. How long will they last in a glass jar or bottle? We are just two, so trying to determine quantity.
Hi Paige. It will depend on the spice mix but as most of them are mixtures of dried herbs and spices, keeping times will be determined by how fresh your dried ingredients were to begin with. Just check the use by dates on any bottles or jars of spices you use, and work on a use by date of whichever expires first.
Having said that, I routinely keep ground spice mixes in the fridge and freezer to extend their keeping time, and have some spice mixes over 1 year old that are still fresh. It will all come down to where you keep the mixes, as heat will increase the deterioration of your mixes. I hope that helps.
I’m always looking for new dip mixes to add to sour cream. Would any of these work well for that? To serve with dips or veggies?
I honestly don’t know Doreen. You may just need to experiment with small amounts to see if you like the taste. I would probably try the herb based spice mixes and see how they taste. Let me know if you do experiment.