Mixes and Pastes

APPLE PIE SPICE MIX (UK, USA)

4 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp ground clove; 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg.

BARBECUE SPICE MIX (UK, USA)

1 tsp chilli pwoder; 1 tsp garlic powder; 2 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp crushed or ground cumin; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp crushed celery seed; 1 tsp paprika; 1 tsp brown sugar.

BOUQUET GARNI (France, many places)

1 sprig parsley; 1 bay leaf; 1 sprig rosemary; 1 sprig thyme. Tie fresh herbs together with kitchen thread. Put dried herbs into a small piece of cheesecloth and tie into bag form. Add to ingredients as directed in recipe. Remove before serving.

This is our favorite bunch, but you can use virtually any combination of herbs. Your bouquet garni could include only parsley, bay leaf and marjoram. Other good herbs to experiment, adding or substituting, are chervil, dill, marjoram or summer savory. You can find prepared sachets of herbs in many stores.

CHICKEN SEASONING (UK, USA)

1 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp paprika; 1 pinch ground cinnamon (optional); 1 pinch dried tarragon.

CHILLI MIX (Mexico, worldwide)

2 tsp chilli powder; 1 tsp cumin crushed or ground; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp garlic powder.

DRY RUB FOR RIBS (USA)

4 Tbs sweet paprika; 2 Tbs chili powder; 2 Tbs ground cumin; 2 Tbs dark brown sugar; 2 Tbs salt; 1 Tbs dried oregano; 1 Tbs granulated sugar; 1 Tbs ground black pepper; 1 Tbs ground white pepper; 1-2 tsp cayenne pepper. Mix all ingredients in the same bowl. Can be stored up to one week in fridge in an airtight container.

FOUR SPICE MIX (Europe)

1 tsp white pepper; 1/2 tsp ground cloves; 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp nutmeg.

FIVE SPICE POWDER (Chinese)

1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp ground cloves; 1 tsp ground fennel seeds; 1 tsp ground star anise; 1 tsp ground anise pepper, also known as Sechuan pepper.

GADO-GADO SAUCE PASTE (Indonesia)

2 tsp garlic, minced; 2 tsp chillies, chopped; 1/4 tsp shrimp paste; 1/4 tsp Laos powder; 1 tsp brown sugar; 6 tsp peanut butter; 2 tsp coconut milk; 1 tsp lemon juice.

GOMA (Japan)

4 tsp crushed sesame seeds; 2 tsp soy; 1 tsp sugar.

HERB DRY RUB (USA, many places)

1½ tsp dried thyme; 1 1/2 tsp dried rosemary; 1 1/2 tsp black pepper cornstarch; 2 bay leaves, crumbled feta cheese; 2 whole cloves or allspice berries; 1 tsp salt.

Grind all ingredients together in a spice grinde until it becomes a powder. Rub onto the oiled meat. This herb rub is particularly good for pork chops.

HERBS DE PROVENCE (France, many places)

1 tsp dried thyme; 1 tsp dried rosemary; 1 tsp dried savory; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 1/2 tsp dried bay leaves, crushed; 1/2 tsp dried basil.

Herb Salt (Europe)

6 Tbs very coarse salt; 1 Tbs peppercorns, whole; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp marjoram; 1 tsp basil; 1 tsp rosemary; 1 tsp dried minced garlic; 1 tsp mustard seeds; 1/2 tsp coriander seeds. Mix well, keep in a spice mill, and grind fresh.

LOUSIANA SEASONING (USA)

1 tsp ground cloves; 1 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp ground bay leaf; 1 tsp ground allspice; 4 tsp ground black pepper; 1/3 tsp ground nutmeg; 1/3 tsp ground mace; 1/3 tsp celery seed; 4 tsp ground white pepper.

MALAYSIAN GARAM MASALA (South Eastern Asia)

1 tsp cumin; ground 1 tsp peppercorns, ground; 1 tsp clove, ground; 1 tsp cardamom, ground.

MILD CURRY POWDER (many places)

2 tsp coriander, ground; 1/2 tsp cumin, ground; 1 tsp ground tumeric; 1/2 tsp garam masala; 1/4 tsp fenugreek, ground; 1/4 tsp cardamom, ground; 1/4 tsp chilli powder.

MIXED SPICE (UK)

1 tsp allspice, ground; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp clove, ground; 1 tsp ground ginger; 1 tsp ground nutmeg.

Nonya Spice (Malaysian, Chinese)

2 tsp onion powder; 2 tsp garlic powder; 2 tsp chilli powder; 1 tsp lemon grass powder or sereh; 1 tsp sugar.

Panch Poron (Bengala, India)

Also known as the Bengali five spice mix - 1 Tbs nigella, 1 Tbs black mustard seeds, 1 Tbs cumin, 1 Tbs fennel, 1 Tbs fenugreek.

PICKLING SPICE (many places)

1 part allspice, whole; 1 part chilli, whole; 1 part cinnamon, whole; 1 part ginger, diced; 1 part mustard seed, whole; 1 part black peppercorns, whole.

PILAU SPICE (India)

2 tsp cardamom, ground; 1 tsp coriander, ground; 1 tsp cloves, whole; 1/2 tsp nutmeg, ground; saffron for coloring.

PUMPKIN PIE SPICE (USA)

1 tsp nutmeg, grated; 1/2 tsp cloves, ground; 1/2 tsp ginger, ground; 1/2 tsp allspice, ground;1/2 tsp cinnamon, ground.

PUNCH SPICE (UK)

1 tsp orange peel; 6tsp cloves, whole; 1 tsp cinnamon; 3 tsp cardamom seeds, whole; 3 tsp coriander seeds, whole; ginger to taste.

SAMBAL ULEK(Indonesia)

4 tsp chilli, crushed; 1/2 tsp salt; 2 tsp tamarind juice.

SEASONING FOR LAMB AND CHICKEN (Spain)

1 Tbs salt; 3 Tbs crushed garlic; 3 Tbs finely chopped parsley; 3 tsp olive oil. Mix to a paste, with mortar and pestle, and rub on the meat before roasting.

SEASONING MIX (Europe)

1 tsp ground bay leaves; 1 tsp ground thyme; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp ground cloves; 1 tsp ground nutmeg; 1 tsp ground fennel seeds; 1 tsp ground basil.

SEASONING FOR LAMB (UK, USA)

1 Tbs dried oregano; 1/2 Tbs crushed black pepper; 1/4 Tbs bay leaf, crumbled; 1/2 Tbs dried basil.

SECHUAN OR SZECHUAN SPICED SALT (China)

1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp anise pepper.

SPICED SALT (worldwide)

1 tsp black pepercorns, ground; 1 tsp coriander seeds, ground; 1/4 tsp bay leaves, crushed; 1/4 tsp cloves, ground; 1/4 tsp chives, dried and crushed; 1/2 lb salt.

SPICED SALT (Europe)

5 Tbs salt; 1 Tbs white pepper; 1 Tbs seasoning mix.

SWEET MEXICAN MIX (Mexico)

1 Tbs minced onion; 1 tsp paprika; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 1/4 tsp crushed or ground cumin; 1/2 tsp salt.