We're constantly trying to think up ways to help our readers improve their cooking skills, and we love tips and tricks that make healthy cooking easier. When you want to put together a delicious, healthy lunch or dinner, often one has to use dried herbs and spices. If you've got your cabinet stocked with lots of different jars of these, chances are there are several that never get used. Maybe you don't really know what to put them in, and maybe you've just forgotten about them.
The best way to use up lots of herbs and spices at once is to make seasoning mixes to keep in jars that are ready to use. It'll make delicious meals much easier to throw together, and it'll use some of your neglected spices! Plus, you'll never have to buy pre-made seasoning packets again, and good riddance, because they're full of preservatives and don't taste particularly good.
You can customize these homemade seasoning mixes as much as you want. If you want to make taco seasoning that isn't quite so tex-mex tasting, you can omit the cumin. If you're making a spice mix for chili and you're not one for oregano, leave it out.
1. Homemade Italian Seasoning.
This stuff is great sprinkled onto garlic bread, chicken, pizza, pasta, sandwiches, meatball subs, mixed with olive oil for dipping, or in a compound butter.
2. Homemade Herbes de Provence.
This mix is delicious in all things French. You can sprinkle it onto chicken, fish, or even steak, and it's perfect in a dijon dressing. An herbes de provence compound butter would be amazing.
3. Homemade "Dorito" Seasoning.
It's honestly shocking how much this stuff tastes like Doritos. It's the perfect way to satisfy your chip craving. Sprinkle liberally onto freshly-popped popcorn for a light snack, or get creative - use it as a rub for chicken wings or mix it into breading for chicken fingers.
4. Homemade Chaat Masala Seasoning.
Perfect for indian dishes like saag paneer and chana masala, but it's also delicious sprinkled onto pita drizzled with olive oil.
It's the best base for a homemade ranch dressing, but it's also amazing on roasted potatoes, fries, popcorn, and really anything else that's crispy.
6. Homemade Cajun Blackening Seasoning.
Blackened salmon, fish or shrimp will light up your dinner table, and it'll come together in no time if you have the seasoning mix pre-made.
7. Homemade Chili or Taco Seasoning.
Obviously, it's great in chili, as a seasoning for taco mix, or in fajitas, but it's also really good in dipping sauces.
8. Homemade Lemon-Pepper Seasoning.
This elegant spice mix takes a little work, but it'll brighten up and enhance literally any dish.
