Spice Blending

Spice blends are an easy way to turn simple, whole food ingredients into a delicious meal without having to add prefabbed sauces that are expensive, perishable, and often filled with ingredients that don’t support our bodies. Spices typically come from the roots, leaves or seeds of plants, making them so much more nutritious than artificial, sugar-packed factory-made seasoning. Spices and herbs are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and many are even used medicinally. Ounce for ounce they top the charts for mineral- and nutrient-density when compared to other vegetables.

Whole cardamom seeds waiting to be freshly ground — photo: Katie Ryan

With just a few combinations you can make infinite dishes, without having the clutter of a full spice rack in your camping setup. Simple "themed" or "regional" blends make for quick meal construction. Start with All-Purpose seasoning (recipes below!) to perk up any savory dish. Try an Italian Blend for pasta and other tomato-based goulashes, sprinkled on boiled eggs and blistered eggplant, or on your tinned fish with a squeeze of lemon. A Mexican Blend or a special Smoky Blend are both lovely for easy breakfast burritos or bean bowls, crispy root vegetables at dinner-time or on your smashed avocado at the crag. Warm Spices liven up oats or yogurt, and make for a special treat when combined with warm milk and honey. Bring your spice blends on a road trip or put them in small ziplock bags for backcountry cooking.

Spices galore on a climbing trip to Geyikbayiri, Turkey in 2011 — photo: Katie Ryan

Try out these recipes for a few of our favorite blends. Each recipe makes ¼ cup of seasoning, which is enough for a handful of meals. Try to avoid making too much at a time because spices are better when they are fresh!

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All-Purpose Seasoning

1  TBS ground BLACK PEPPER

1 TBS ground CORIANDER

1 tsp ground MUSTARD 

1 tsp GARLIC powder

1 tsp PAPRIKA

2 tsp NUTRITIONAL YEAST

1 tsp coarse SALT

Italian Blend

1 ½ TBS BASIL

1 TBS MARJORAM or OREGANO

½ TBS THYME

2 tsp FENNEL 

1 tsp CHILI FLAKES

Smoky Blend

2 TBS SMOKED PAPRIKA

1 ½  tsp ground CORIANDER

2 tsp ground CUMIN

2 tsp ground FENNEL

½ tsp ground CINNAMON

Mexican Blend

1 TBS OREGANO

1 TBS GARLIC powder

1 TBS ground CUMIN

2 tsp CHILI POWDER

1 tsp ground CORIANDER

Mexican Blend

2 TBS ground CINNAMON

2 tsp ground CLOVES

2 tsp ground GINGER

1  tsp ground CARDAMOM

½  tsp ground ANISE

½  tsp ground BLACK PEPPER

(TBS = tablespoon, tsp = teaspoon)

Blending on the road — photo: Linda Tyler