SPICE ESSENTIALS: SODIUM-FREE TACO SEASONING

Spice Essentials: Sodium-Free Taco Seasoning image

This is a great taco seasoning, because not only does it allow you control the heat; in addition, you get to control the sodium. Most store-bought taco seasonings are absolutely loaded with salt; however, in this recipe, you are in control. If you are on a sodium-restricted diet, leave it out, or just use a pinch or two... The...

Provided by Andy Anderson !

Time 5m

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

PLAN/PURCHASE
THE HEAT
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp white pepper, freshly ground
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, or red-pepper flakes
THE PIZZAZZ
2 Tbsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp paprika, smoked variety
1 Tbsp dehydrated onions, crushed
1/2 Tbsp dried oregano
1/2 Tbsp garlic powder

Steps:

1. PREP/PREPARE
2. It is all in the Chili Powder: There are a lot of good chili powders in the market, and you probably have a favorite; although I usually make my own, two of my store-bought favorites are: • Red New Mexico Hatch Chili Powder • Mexene Chili Powder If you cannot find these locally, they are available through Amazon, and if you are a Prime member, shipping is free. Is this a great country, or what? This is my homemade version: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/soup/soup-chili/diy-kick-butt-chili-powder.html?r=1
3. This recipe will produce about 8.5 tablespoons of taco spice, and be enough to fill one standard spice bottle and about half of another. When a spice runs out, I scrape the label off the old bottle, and throw it in the dishwater, then when I make a new spice mix, I have a jar to store it in.
4. A certain percentage of the population does not like cumin. If you are one of those folks (I am not), then just leave it out, and add a bit more of the other spices, to compensate.
5. If you do not have any smoked paprika, I suggest going with a sweet version. But, this ingredient, to me, is important to the overall flavor of the spice mix.
6. Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
7. Use a spice blender, or mortar and pestle, to crush up the dehydrated onions.
8. Mix with the other dry spices, place in a tightly-sealed container, and store in a cool dry place, away from sunlight, until needed.
9. PLATE/PRESENT
10. Use in any recipe that calls for taco seasoning. FYI: Those packets of taco seasoning that you get at the grocer, each contain 2 tablespoons of seasoning. So, doing the math, you have an equivalent of 4 packets. Enjoy.
11. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.