Spice blends seasoning make cooking quick and easy.
Pre-packaged spices and seasonings are convenient, inexpensive ingredients for building flavors. Seasoning mixes take the guesswork out of dishes like chili, tacos and more. Left to our own devices, it can be difficult to decipher the spice aisle. Making a custom spice blend is not an easy task for the novice cook, and knowing which spices enhance certain ingredients can seem like a science project.
Chili Powder
Chili powder is made of dried, ground chili peppers. It is often blended with other seasonings like garlic powder, cumin and salt. The type of chili used is not always specified. Ancho chilies, jalapenos and pasilla peppers may be used. The flavor is smoky, and the level of spice depends on the pepper used. Cayenne pepper is a very spicy variant of chili powder.
Chili Powder Uses
Chili powder is often used in rubs for meats. It is used often in Tex-Mex and Mexican cooking, giving a spicy, smoky flavor to chili con carne and enchiladas. To make a smoky dry rub for ribs, mix 1 tbsp. each of chili powder, cumin, paprika, granulated garlic, granulated onion and brown sugar; 1 tsp. each of cayenne pepper, black pepper and white pepper (optional); and 2 tbsp. of salt. Pack the spice mix onto the ribs before cooking.
Chili Seasoning
Chili seasoning can be found in the spice aisle of the grocery store, often in single packets. It is a blend of several spices, including chili powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, , onion powder, cumin, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper. Some chili seasonings also include flour for thickening the dish.
Chili Seasoning Uses
Chili seasoning is used most traditionally in chili. The blend of spices adds heat and smoke, and the flour thickens the stew. To make a homemade spice blend for chili, mix 1 tbsp. of paprika; 1 tsp. each of onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and seasoned pepper; ½ tsp. each of dried oregano and dried thyme; and 2 ½ tsp. of seasoning salt.
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