Homemade Tex-Mex seasoning
Units
Temperature
Servings
Ingredients
Seasoning
- 36 g mild North American chili powder blend rounded
- 20 g ground cumin rounded
- 14 g sweet paprika rounded
- 10 g ground coriander rounded
- 8 g garlic powder rounded
- 8 g onion powder rounded
- 3 g dried Mexican oregano, rubbed between the fingers rounded
- 1 g ground cayenne, optional; omit for a 99 g mild blend rounded
Method
Method
- Make sure the bowl, whisk, jar, and lid are completely dry. Rub the oregano between your fingers to break up large leaves.
- Whisk all ingredients for 60 seconds, scraping the bottom and corners twice. Break every dry clump before transferring the mixture to a clean airtight jar.
- Label the jar with the date and the words “salt-free.” Use 20 to 25 g for a meal serving 4, then salt the dish separately according to its ingredients.
Ingredient substitutions
- In Canada, “chili powder” normally means a mild blend containing ground chile and supporting spices. In Germany, “Chilipulver” may mean nearly pure hot chile. Do not use 36 g pure German Chilipulver. Instead combine 24 g sweet paprika, 8 g mild ground chile, 2 g extra cumin, and 2 g extra oregano.
- Mexican oregano is citrusy and earthy. In Germany use 2 g Mediterranean oregano plus 1 g dried marjoram; in Canada ordinary oregano may replace it at the same 3 g weight but tastes more minty.
- Smoked paprika may replace up to 5 g of the sweet paprika for a smokier blend. Replacing all 14 g overwhelms the cumin and oregano.
- Cayenne is optional. For extra heat, add it by 0.5 g increments rather than replacing the mild chili powder blend.
Notes
- The blend deliberately contains no salt because broth, cheese, canned beans, and different household preferences change the salt required by each dish.
- Store airtight in a cool, dark, dry cupboard for up to 6 months. Always use a dry spoon. Discard the blend if moisture causes persistent clumps, mold appears, or the aroma becomes stale or musty.
- A 20 g use seasons a moderate skillet meal; 24 to 25 g gives a fuller flavor. The 100 g batch therefore provides four measured uses with a small margin only when lower amounts are chosen.