Who doesn’t need a jar of Handy Garlic & Herb Seasoned Salt made in minutes to use all summer long, right? I love to play around with spices and herbs, but sometimes, I just want to grab ONE bottle – –not 10 – – you know? So, I’ve decided to start making my own spice blends, that are so much cheaper than expensive little bottles, and create a small collection of my own to use designed for specific things, as well as this one, which is more of an all-purpose seasoning!
And with grilling season upon us, I thought that a blend that could be used for just about anything and everything would be the perfect place to start!
Whenever I’m mixing up a spicy or herbed seasoning, I always start with salt. Let’s face it. Salt is what makes things taste good, enhancing the flavors that are already there, making everything taste like it should, and is the common base seasoning that’s used in commercial seasonings as well as by chefs. So salt is of course number one! Kind of a “duh” there, but here’s the thing. No fancy, overrated, and overpriced salts are needed. Just plain ol’ regular table salt works perfectly and is the correct size of grain that blends well with the rest of the seasonings.
After that, it’s just a nice blend of herbs and a few spices in amounts that don’t overpower each other, and will enhance whatever you’re cooking or grilling!
That’s the key and most important. If it doesn’t play well together and with what you’re making, and bring out the flavors of what you’re cooking, then why even use it? Right? 😀 😉 I did design this after what the hubs and I like best, though, so you may want to increase something, reduce something, sub something , or omit something…orrrr something like that. 😉
We happen to LOVE garlic, so I go a little heavy with it. You can start with less and always add more to suit your own personal palate. But hence the name and first mentioned in the title, keep in mind that this a garlic blend of sorts. Just to be clear. 😉
(*The steak in the back has this seasoning on it.)
So anyways, this Handy Garlic & Herb Seasoned Salt blend is great for just about anything! Use it when you’re grilling out to season steaks, burgers, seafood, or even veggies! (*I used it for the first time trying it out on (my) free steak that we got for my hubby’s birthday from Certified Angus Beef!) And it was wonderful!!! The hubs wanted his with just salt and pepper. I do think he missed out this time! 😉
And it made for some KILLER-good leftover steak hoagies the next day, too!!!
Or toss together some fresh summer vegetables and sprinkle it over your salad, use it in homemade salad dressings, or even add it to cold pasta salads and slaws!
This is also great for all kinds of cooking including casseroles, roasts (beef, pork, and whole chicken), chops, chicken wings, rice and pasta dishes, dark-colored gravies and sauces, or just plain anything you want to season up! *I only just recommend that you might not want to use it in any kind of white sauces, gravies, béchamels or alfredos, because it could turn the color of what you’re making a funky orangish hue due to the paprika and cayenne. Don’t ask me how I know this. 😉
So make up a batch and keep it handy in a jar next to your other spices! You’ll be using this blend a lot, and it’s so much better than the ones at the store with added crazy stuff like sawdust to keep it from clumping. If it should happen to clump a little, just stir it with a fork or mini whisk, put the lid back on and give it a good shake! No need for sawdust (*or what’s called “cellulose”!) Just natural herbs and spices! Enjoy!
Handy Garlic & Herb Seasoned Salt
Ingredients
Instructions