Thisย Salad Seasoning Mixย is my favorite way to add some extra zing to my salad dishes. I simply sprinkle 2 tablespoons of this spice mix onto any large salad bowl, and the result is that I want to eat a salad every single day!
It has the perfect blend of flavors, texture, and taste, and it only takes me a minute or so to prepare. Beware, you'd want to add this spice mix to every dish you cook!
I experimented a lot with combinations and proportions of spices to come up with this perfect blend of flavors, which, in my opinion, is suitable for almost any salad recipe.
One of the reasons that made me prepare my own Salad Seasoning Mix is that it offers a lot fewer calories than the pre-made dressings I used to buy at the store.
What is Salad Seasoning Mix?
A Salad Seasoning Mix is exactly what it sounds like. It's a mixture of an assortment of spices, herbs, and flavours beautifully combined to bring about the best in the right about any of your dishes.
I made this spice mix specially to fit best on some salads. We all know what an absolute struggle it is to find the perfect seasoning mix that goes well with almost any salad. With this recipe, I bet it won't be nearly as hard anymore.
I also have so many spice mix recipes such as Mediterranean seasoning mix, Quesadilla Seasoning,ย Meatball Seasoningย and a lot more.
Ingredients
Procuring good quality ingredients is the key to making this perfect Salad Seasoning Mix. The better the quality of ingredients, the longer the shelf-life of your spice mix:
- Sesame seeds: Opt for the black ones if you like. They provide a richer, more savoury flavour and they also add some crunchiness.
- Paprika: It adds a peppery flavor and a lovely color. Just the regular kind you'll find in the grocery store's spice aisle.
- Cayenne pepper (powder): It will add a bit of heat.
- Poppy seeds: Also known as khas khas in South Asian cultures and they add a nutty flavor to this dish.
- Dried basil: It has an even stronger flavor than fresh basil; I love it.
- Garlic powder:ย It provides a mild garlic taste.
- Onion powder: It will add a savory umami taste.
- Salt: Just what you have at home works.
- Black pepper: I love to add black pepper for a spicy kick.
- Parmesan cheese: The kind of cheese you can easily sprinkle and store as if it's a spice.
โSee the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.โ
Variations
Here are a few herbs that you may add to this seasoning mix:
- Parsley: Dried parsley has a strong herby and mildly bitter taste that helps bring out other flavours in a dish, just like lemon zest would.
- Chives: They have a flavour close to that of onions and garlic, and so if you like that sort of garlicky taste, you can try adding dried chives to your spice mix.
- Thyme: The earthy, tangy, and slightly minty herb has the power to add a dash of freshness to the right about anything.
How to Make Salad Seasoning Mix?
One: After you have procured all the ingredients, combine them in a bowl and mix well.
Two: Once combined, carefully add the mixture into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator.
That's it. Your Salad Seasoning Mix is ready to season all your homemade delicacies.
Tip: Use 2 tablespoons of this seasoning mix for each large bowl of salad.
Expert Tips!
- When pouring all the ingredients into the container, make sure to use a container with a wide mouth or use a funnel to avoid creating a mess.
- Makes a large batch by doubling or trebling this recipe so it can last for a long time.
- If you want to make this seasoning mix vegan, just skip the parmesan cheese.
Using The Salad Seasoning Mix
Once this seasoning mix is made, there's so much that you can do with it. Have a look at some of these lip-smacking things you can do with your seasoning mix:
Use it as a Salad Dressing: No surprises here. Dust some of this spice mix on top of your healthy (but, let's face it, bland) salads and give them some spice. If you prefer, you can make it into a salad dressing.
You can try adding some olive oil, vinegar, and mustard or apple cider vinegar to make yourself a very authentic salad dressing. Let me know in the comments what combinations you came up with and how they tasted!
Use it as a marinade: Preferably for chicken. All these herbs blended well with a bit of olive oil and lemon juice make for a unique marinating recipe. Once marinated, bake the chicken in a pan. Voila! You just discovered a brand new way to spice your chicken.
Ranch Dip or Yoghurt Sauce: You can add this seasoning to your favourite ranch dip/dressing or enjoy it with some yoghurt and call it a sauce.
Storage
All the ingredients in this recipe are dry and have a long shelf-life except for the parmesan. So, if you intend to use the seasoning within 2-3 week or so, just place the seasoning in an airtight container and refrigerate.
However, if you are making a big patch, I recommend you keep it in the freezer. Take it out whenever you need it, and put it back in the freezer when you're done.
Recipe FAQ's
Poppy seeds taste very nutty but are usually used in foods to add texture. So, if you can't get your hands on some poppy seeds, you can substitute them for literally any other seeds you have in your kitchen. You can also go for chia seeds, flax seeds or sunflower seeds.
Find this spice mix too spicy? It could be because you added too much cayenne pepper or black pepper which are the hottest ingredients in the bunch. You might want to add in more significant amounts of the other ingredients mentioned to balance out the spiciness you're experiencing.
Secondly, seasoning mixes are supposed to be intensely flavoured, so it could just be that you're using large portions. Consider toning down the amount of seasoning you're using.
Salads That Go Well With This Seasoning Mix
More Spice Mix Recipes
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Recipe Card
Salad Seasoning Mix
Equipment
- Jar
Ingredients
- ยผ cup sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 ยฝ tablespoon paprika
- 1 ยฝ tablespoon poppy seed
- 2 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- When pouring all the ingredients into the container, make sure to use a container with a wide mouth or use a funnel to avoid creating a mess.
- Makes a large batch by doubling or trebling this recipe so it can last for a long time.
- If you want to make this seasoning mix vegan, just skip the parmesan cheese.
Olivia says
Made my salad so delicious! Thanks!
Bella says
Good mix. Thanks!