Asian Spice Blends and What Each Brings to a Dish
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Spice Blends
Garam masala, za'atar, ras el hanout — recipes, ratios, and how to make your own blends.
What actually goes in the jar, in what proportion, and which commercial versions leave things out.
In this section
28 articles in Spice Blends
Each one is tested in a kitchen, and every health claim names the research it rests on.
Middle Eastern and African Blends, From Za'atar to Berbere
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Western Spice Blends: Cajun, Old Bay, and Herbes de Provence
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Blends From the Americas: Jerk, Adobo, and BBQ Rubs
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Berbere Changes Once It Meets Onion and Hot Fat
Berbere is an Ethiopian and Eritrean red spice blend whose dried chiles, fenugreek, ginger, garlic, and aromatic seeds…
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Cajun Seasoning Works When the Three Peppers Stay Distinct
Cajun seasoning usually combines paprika for color, cayenne for direct heat, black pepper for slower pungency, and a…
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Chaat Masala Is a Finishing Spice, So Timing Changes Everything
Chaat masala is a tangy South Asian finishing blend commonly made with amchur, kala namak, cumin, coriander, pepper…
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Herbes de Provence: Does Lavender Belong in the Blend?
Herbes de Provence is a dried herb blend commonly built around thyme, rosemary, savory, and oregano, while lavender is…
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Is Curry Powder Actually Indian? How to Use It Well
Curry powder is a British convenience blend that adds quick yellow color and mild warmth as an early base. Bloom it in…
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Italian Seasoning: What Belongs in the Blend?
Italian seasoning is a dried herb blend usually built from oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram. Crush coarse…
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Jerk Seasoning: What Makes the Jamaican Flavor Work?
Jerk seasoning is Jamaican flavor built around allspice, Scotch bonnet chile, thyme, alliums, and smoky cooking. Choose…
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Old Bay Seasoning: What It Tastes Like and How to Use It
Old Bay is a salty, celery-forward Chesapeake seasoning with paprika, red and black pepper, mustard-like sharpness, and…
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What Goes Into Taco Seasoning and How Should You Use It?
Taco seasoning is usually a chile-and-cumin blend with paprika, garlic, onion, oregano, pepper, and optional salt or…
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What Is Baharat Spice Blend, and How Should You Use It?
Baharat is a Middle Eastern spice blend built around black pepper, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and…
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What Is Chimichurri, and Why Should It Stay Chunky?
Chimichurri is an uncooked Argentine and Uruguayan sauce built from parsley, oregano, garlic, chile, vinegar, oil…
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What Is Dukkah, and Why Should It Stay Coarse?
Dukkah is an Egyptian mixture of toasted nuts, sesame, coriander, cumin, pepper, and salt. Toast the components…
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What Is Harissa, and How Do Paste and Powder Differ?
Harissa is a Tunisian red chile paste seasoned with garlic, caraway, coriander, cumin, acid, oil, and salt. Paste…
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What Is Hawaij? The Yemeni Blend for Soup and Coffee
Hawaij can mean a savory Yemeni blend or a sweeter coffee blend, and the version decides the food. Savory hawaij often…
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What Is Pumpkin Pie Spice and How Should You Use It?
Pumpkin pie spice contains warm ground spices, not pumpkin, sugar, or salt. Cinnamon should lead, ginger and nutmeg…
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What Is Ras el Hanout? The Logic Behind the Moroccan Blend
Ras el hanout is a North African spice blend whose name is often explained as the best of the shop. There is no single…
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What Is Shichimi Togarashi and How Do You Use It?
Shichimi togarashi is a Japanese seven-flavor seasoning built around chile with citrus peel, sansho, seeds, seaweed…
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What Is Za'atar, and Why Does It Taste Bright?
Za'atar is a Middle Eastern blend built around dried herbs, sumac, sesame seeds, and salt. It tastes best as a…
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What Is in Chinese Five Spice, and When Should You Use It?
Chinese five spice is a strong blend led by star anise, not chile heat, with cinnamon, fennel, clove, and pepper…
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What Is in Garam Masala, and Why Does It Work?
Garam masala is a roasted warming spice blend used most often near the end of cooking. It usually centers on cumin…
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What Makes a BBQ Rub Build Bark Without Burning?
A BBQ rub balances salt, pepper, paprika, aromatics, and optional sugar to season meat and build a textured crust. Keep…
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Which Adobo Do You Mean: Seasoning or Braise?
Adobo seasoning is usually a dry Latin or Caribbean garlic-oregano blend, while wet adobo is a coating and Filipino…
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Which Thai Curry Paste Should You Use for Your Curry?
Thai curry paste is a wet pounded mixture of chiles, lemongrass, galangal, makrut lime, shallot, garlic, and savory…
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Why Tandoori Masala Is Red and How the Marinade Works
Tandoori masala is a chile-forward blend commonly built from coriander, cumin, ginger, garlic, warm spices, and…
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