Seasonings from Scratch

[ SEASONING from SCRATCH ] ~ from HerbCo

The 18th century English poet William Cowper gave us the old adage that “Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor” when the penned his classic poem, The Task, in 1785. This bit of altruism applies to our kitchens today as much as it does in the world at large, where diversity is indeed a blessing. The problem is, we sometimes settle for the mediocre and familiar, both in life and at the table.

No more! We’ve put together a collection of seasoning blends from around the world—from copycat Mrs. Dash and Old Bay Seasoning to Indonesian Tandoori Masala and Ethiopian Berbere Spice Blend—that you can easily make in your own kitchen (or restaurant, if you happen to be a chef) that will wake up the flavors of your favorite foods without the price tag typically encountered in specialty shops.

no-salt seasonings

Copycat Mrs. Dash
This classic seasoning—which was almost named Mrs. Pinch—is the creation of Carol Bernick, now Executive Chairwoman of B&G Foods, the company that currently produces the line of seasonings under this name. Like the original formula, our recipe includes mace. Use it on virtually anything when you want flavor without the sodium.

2 tablespoons garlic granules
1 tablespoon basil
1 tablespoon marjoram
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon parsley
1 tablespoon sage
1 tablespoon savory
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon black pepper, coarsely ground
1 tablespoon dried lemon peel
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon mace

All-Purpose No-Salt Seasoning
Use this salt-free seasoning on grilled foods, rice, potatoes, egg dishes and in marinades. It also makes a tasty popcorn seasoning.

2 tablespoons garlic granules
2 tablespoons onion granules
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons cracked black pepper

italian seasonings

DIY Italian Seasoning Blend
This savory blend is delicious on just about everything, but especially with pasta, tomato sauces, soups, grilled chicken and fish, grilled vegetables, scrambled eggs and omelets and garlic bread.

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon fennel seed, lightly crushed
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon dried sage

Perfect Pizza Topping
Not just for pizza, this blend is great to flavor tomato sauce, soups, stews, meatballs and pasta dishes.

4 tablespoons oregano
2 tablespoons basil
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 tablespoon dried onion granules
1 tablespoon garlic granules
1 tablespoon fennel seed, crushed
1 tablespoon black pepper coarsely ground
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

south of the border seasonings

Adobo Seasoning
Adobo isn't a specific spice blend or dish; it's a method of cooking that is original to the Philippines and now widely used in Caribbean and Mexican cuisines. The method is to marinate meat (usually chicken or pork) in a base of vinegar or soy sauce enhanced with various spices and then simmer it in the marinade until cooked through.

2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon dried parsley
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 1⁄2 teaspoons onion granules
1 1⁄2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic granules
1 teaspoon chili powder

Southwestern Rub
Not only does this blend make an excellent rub for grilled meats, but it's also wonderful on roasted corn-on-the-cob, sprinkled over deviled eggs or stirred into sour cream as a dip or mayonnaise for a sandwich spread.

3 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon onion granules
1 teaspoon garlic granules
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried cilantro

seafood seasonings

Copycat Old Bay
Old Bay has been the standard seafood seasoning in America, especially in Maryland where it was first introduced in 1939.

6 bay leaves, crumbled
3 tablespoons celery salt
1 tablespoon black pepper, coarsely ground
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1/2 tablespoon ground ginger
1/2 tablespoon ground nutmeg
1/2 tablespoon ground cloves
1/2 tablespoon paprika
1/2 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon mace

Creole Seafood Blend
Reach for this when cooking craw daddies or crab in a boiling pot. This blend is also good to use as a dip for crab or shrimp when mixed with mayonnaise or Greek yogurt. You can also use it to season breading to make fried or baked fish.

3/4 cup garlic powder
1/2 cup salt
1/4 cup cracked black pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon crumbled bay leaf
1 tablespoon dried marjoram
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon mustard seed, cracked
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon celery seed powder
1 teaspoon file powder

steak seasonings

Buffalo Bill Blend
Excellent sprinkled over grilled steaks or burgers as they cook. Flip and repeat.

1 tablespoon garlic granules
1 tablespoon onion granules
1/2 tablespoon dried rosemary
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon celery seed, crushed
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Copycat Texas Roadhouse Steak Seasoning
This is the ideal dry rub for New York strip, ribeye, sirloin and other cuts of beef destined for the grill. For best results, rub the meat and let it rest in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight before cooking.

1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon black pepper

middle eastern seasonings

Berbere Spice Blend
This classic Ethiopian-style spice blend is extremely versatile. It's incredible with roasted or grilled beef, pork or chicken or in baked vegetable dishes and in homemade soups and stews.

1/4 cup chipotle powder
1/4 cup sweet paprika
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon ground fenugreek
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Ras al Hanout
In Arabic, Ras al Hanout translates to "head of the shop," indicating its prominence as the premium spice blend that the market has to offer. This seasoning is widely used in Moroccan and North African cuisines, usually as a dry rub. It's unique flavor comes from the combination of warm and sweet spices, the punch of chili peppers and the subtle flavor of crushed rose petals.

1 1/2 teaspoons coriander seeds, crushed
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon dried rose petals, crumbled
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

asian seasonings

Tandoori Masala
Tandoori is a cooking technique in which meat is marinated with yogurt and spices and then lowered with long skewers into a very hot circular clay oven called a tandoor. You can also use this blend as a dry rub, if you wish.

2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon saffron (optional)

Shichimi Togarashi
The name of this seasoning blend comes from the Japanese words "shichi" and "togarashi," which mean "seven" and "chilis," respectively. Because the recipe typically contains seven ingredients it is sometimes called seven spice blend. This seasoning is especially good in broths, noodle dishes and tempuras.

2 tablespoons cracked black pepper
1 tablespoon dried orange peel
1 tablespoon ground chili powder
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons black sesame seeds
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
2 teaspoons garlic granules

let us make it for you

No time to measure and mix your own seasoning blends from scratch? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We offer several pre-mixed seasoning blends to get dinner on the table and you out of the kitchen in no time. Here’s a sampling of some of our most popular blends...

Some of our spice blend favorites include:

gumbo file seasoning
jamaican jerk seasoning
lemon pepper seasoning
herbs de provence seasoning
italian seasoning
garam masala seasoning

Read more about them below or visit our spice blends page for more.

gumbo file seasoning
File powder is made from the dried, ground, young leaves of the sassafras tree, a deciduous species native to eastern North America. As a spice, it is a staple in Cajun and Creole cuisines. Because it is a key ingredient used to flavor and thicken gumbo, it is commonly referred to as gumbo file. The spice imparts a slightly citrus-like aroma similar to eucalyptus, and a hearty, unique flavor to soups, stews, shrimp jambalaya and crawfish pie!
PURCHASE GUMBO FILE SEASONING IN BULK >

jamaican jerk seasoning
Jamaican Jerk is a blend of ground spices used as a dry rub and seasoning to enliven liquid marinades. While our version doesn’t have the level of heat in traditional jerk seasoning that is provided by Scotch bonnet peppers, the addition of chipotle and cayenne peppers never fail to tingle the tongue! Savory garlic and thyme balance the sweetness of cinnamon, while clove and allspice provide warmth and depth. Use Jamaican Jerk Seasoning to add authentic Caribbean flavor to chicken, beef, sausage, fish, shrimp and other seafood.
PURCHASE JAMAICAN JERK SEASONING IN BULK >

lemon pepper seasoning
With granular bits of lemon peel and garlic and cracked black pepper, this seasoning blend has plenty of texture and zing. Dried onion and salt provide savory elements while citric acid provides pop with additional citrus flavor. Our lemon pepper blend is ideal for chicken, fish and all other manner of seafood. Don’t forget to add it to the crumb mixture used for breading foods!
PURCHASE LEMON PEPPER SEASONING IN BULK >

herbs de provence seasoning
Herbs de Provence is a blend of dried, whole herbs common to the southeastern region of France, although most are now cultivated and sourced from eastern Europe and North Africa. There are many variations on the recipe and proportions, but the blend traditionally consists of rosemary, oregano, thyme, parsley and savory. Our version is enhanced with the sweetness of basil and the floral note of lavender. Herbs de Provence is used during cooking to infuse flavor into meats, fish, vegetables and stews.
PURCHASE HERBS DE PROVENCE SEASONING IN BULK >

italian seasoning
A robust mixture of basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, marjoram and thyme, this classic blend of herbs brings out the sweetness of your best tomato sauce. It’s also excellent as a simple seasoning for potatoes, rice, or pasta drizzled with olive oil. Try mixing it into meatballs and meatloaf, or sprinkle over pizza or fresh caprese salad. And then there’s garlic bread!
PURCHASE ITALIAN SEASONING IN BULK >

garam masala seasoning
Garam masala is a highly aromatic and flavorful blend of roasted and ground spices. The word garam means “heating the body” or “hot,” while masala translates to “spice mixture.” It is widely used in Indian cuisine and featured in traditional dishes such as biryani, murgh kari (chicken curry) and tikka masala. Although recipe ingredients vary throughout the region, and from family to family, the blend typically consists of black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, nutmeg, cardamom and coriander. Use a dash to add warmth and a hint of sweetness to chicken, fish, soups, vegetables, rice pilaf and potatoes.
PURCHASE GARAM MASALA IN BULK >