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Caribbean Spices - Add the Fab Taste
of the Islands to Your Home Cooking

Making your own Caribbean spices is a sure way of recreating the authentic taste of the Caribbean islands. This hot and spicy blend is super versatile and will season and flavour numerous dishes: Chicken, pork, beef, fish and various seafood for example or, combine it with olive oil and use it as a dressing for your vegetable dishes. (See the bottom of the page for links to more of my recipes)

Note: This recipe uses a few whole ingredients as these will add the best flavours to your seasoning. If you don't have them all whole simply use pre-ground powders and reduce the amounts the recipe requires by about half. For example, for 2 tablespoons of allspice berries you would use 1 tablespoon of pre-ground allspice. Reduce any others you don't have whole by half as well and stir in with any other powders when making.

Homemade Caribbean Spices

What You'll Need: (makes about 7-8 tablespoons)

3 tbsp hot chili powder
2 tbsp allspice berries
2 tbsp dried thyme
1 tbsp black peppercorns
4 tsp brown sugar
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp cinnamon powder
1 whole nutmeg
1 tsp whole cloves
2 tsp salt (see note 2 below)

tbsp = tablespoon
tsp = teaspoon

Directions:

• Grate 1 teaspoon worth of nutmeg

• Grind the salt, sugar, allspice, peppercorns and cloves

• Sieve into a bowl

• Add the chili, cinnamon, onion and garlic powders and grated nutmeg. Combine thoroughly

• Finally, crumble in the dried thyme. Combine again
  

Store in an airtight jar out of direct sunlight. Use within 3 months.

Note: To extract even more flavour from the ingredients, I recommend dry toasting the allspice berries, cloves and peppercorns for a few minutes before cooling, grinding and combining with the powders and herbs. Click here for tips, photos and an instructional video about how to toast and grind. (Link opens in new window)

Note 2: I recommend using a quality sea, rock or kosher salt for my recipes. And whilst you can happily use processed table salt if that's all you have and it'll still taste great, a quality unprocessed salt is not only healthier, your mix and therefore your cooking will taste better!

Other Blends and Seasonings You May Enjoy

Homemade Jerk Rub - With the Unique Taste of Annatto

Jerk Mix - Perfect For Flavouring All Your Chicken Recipes

Poultry Seasonings - For Chicken, Turkey and Game Cooking

Return to Jerk Seasoning

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