Why would someone buy a Mexican seasoning packet from the grocery store?
I’ll answer that since I used to be their best customer. I bought the packets because it was easy. Easy to buy, and easy to tear open and have everything right there to mix with beef or chicken.
But the odd thing was – which I’m sure is the case with many people – I already had all the basic ingredients in my kitchen. Cayenne pepper, onion and garlic powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, black pepper.
Well, I didn’t have all the ingredients to match the store bought Mexican seasonings. As Sarah of TasteSpotting pointed out in our last Spotlight on Spice article, the taco seasoning packets are filled with polysyllable ingredients that are difficult to pronounce, and probably difficult for your body to accept.
Making the blend at home is cheaper and healthier. I can cut down the salt. I can tweak the ratio of spices to make it more or less spicy. I can grind whole spices if I want a fresher, more aromatic seasoning.
And just as important, it’s fun. Isn’t that what’s missing in our kitchens these days?
Start with the basic spices of a Mexican seasoning, and add one more to experiment with the flavor. Try adding the Caribbean spice of Allspice, or different types of ground chili pepper, or even lime zest.
Mexican Seasoning and Salsa Recipes
Taco / Fajita Seasoning by Season with Spice
Seasoning for one pound of chicken or ground beef
What you'll need:
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp Ground Chipotle
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp ground allspice (optional)
1/2 tsp corn starch – for thickening purposes (optional)
Process:
1. If using any whole spices, ground spices into powder. Then mix all ingredients together.
2. Cook strips of chicken or ground beef. When halfway cooked, stir in seasoning blend with 1/8 cup of water (if using corn starch, add 1/4 cup water and cook until the mixture thickens).
Mango Salsa for Tacos / Fajitas by Season with Spice
What you'll need:
1 ripe, sweet mango - sliced into cubes
1/2 red chili (and/or green chili) - diced
1 tbsp of diced red onion
1 tbsp of lime juice
Handful of cherry tomatoes - sliced
1/2 of a bell pepper - chopped
A few cilantro leaves – chopped
Process:
1. Gently mix all ingredients so as not to smash mango. Serve on tacos, fajitas, or many other Mexican dishes.
Taco / Fajita Seasoning by Season with Spice
Seasoning for one pound of chicken or ground beef
What you'll need:
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp Ground Chipotle
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp ground allspice (optional)
1/2 tsp corn starch – for thickening purposes (optional)
Process:
1. If using any whole spices, ground spices into powder. Then mix all ingredients together.
2. Cook strips of chicken or ground beef. When halfway cooked, stir in seasoning blend with 1/8 cup of water (if using corn starch, add 1/4 cup water and cook until the mixture thickens).
Mango Salsa for Tacos / Fajitas by Season with Spice
What you'll need:
1 ripe, sweet mango - sliced into cubes
1/2 red chili (and/or green chili) - diced
1 tbsp of diced red onion
1 tbsp of lime juice
Handful of cherry tomatoes - sliced
1/2 of a bell pepper - chopped
A few cilantro leaves – chopped
Process:
1. Gently mix all ingredients so as not to smash mango. Serve on tacos, fajitas, or many other Mexican dishes.
