Top 9 Seasoning Recipes

Cajun cooking has developed a reputation for being all about heat. The truth is Cajun flavors are more savory than hot. This spice blend can be adjusted for heat by increasing (or decreasing) the amount of cayenne pepper.

How Montreal became the king of spice blends is anyone's guess, but spice maker McCormick has been selling these blends for years. There are probably hundred of recipes for this seasoning, but they are all based on the same idea. Heat and flavor without all the floral herbs of many old world blends.

This is a great basic Turkey rub with enough heat to make it interesting. You can use this rub on all poultry, no matter how you prepare it.

Lemon pepper is a popular ingredient in many recipes. It is perfect on chicken, a burger or pasta. Problem is, if you happen to live in a place where you can't find it, or you just want to make up your own batch (because it's better than what you buy in the store). This is a great way to start making the kinds of seasonings you want, specifically formulated for your tastes.

Mexican seasonings can be as simple as chili powder or large collections of spices and herbs. To me is just doesn't have that Mexican flavor if it doesn't have cumin. The best way to get cumin powder is to toast cumin seeds and grind them to a fine dust. If you are not as ambitious you can use dried cumin instead.

Tradition suggests that the basis for Creole flavor is the three peppers, black, white and red. This spice blend mixes black pepper, white pepper and cayenne with herbs to make a great flavor.

There are probably hundreds of recipes for Garam Masala, the traditional seasoning blend of Northern India. This is one of the more simple recipes and is great for adding an Indian flavor to anything you want to cook. For more information read about Garam Masala

 This is a knockoff of the popular Lawry's Seasoned Salt. Adding this combination of salt, sugar and spices to recipes that call for seasoned salt is a great, natural way to enhance flavors. 

Old Bay seasoning is a traditional favorite of Maryland and sold world wide. This approximation of that old recipe is a perfect seasoning for fish and seafood.