09.11.2020
Spice Blends for Effortless Weeknight Dinners
Between work, school, and everything in between, we don’t always have enough time to focus on weeknight dinners. We asked our spice merchants for their favorite easy dinner recipes, inspired by one of our gourmet spice blends.
They also chose a protein, a side dish, and a vegetable or two that can be cooked in little time with even less effort. This is when spice blends and a good sheet pan, or stovetop skillet, come in most handy. Nothing beats having dinner prepped in less time than it takes to cook, with only one piece of cookware to scrub afterwards.
If you have a spice blend-inspired recipe you would like to share, email us at spices@thespicehouse.com, or leave us a comment below.
Maple Garlic Pork Tenderloin
Protein: Pork tenderloin
Veggies or Side Dish: Roasted brussels sprouts, and cubed sweet potato, carrots, or butternut squash
Spice Blend: Gateway to the North Maple Garlic Seasoning
One of our most popular blends, this seasoning is sweet, savory, and made with real Wisconsin maple sugar. Named after the maple industry hub of Marinette County, Gateway to the North compliments pork, baked beans, and sweet potatoes.
Method: Scatter veggies on sheet pan and sprinkle generously with Gateway to the North. Bake at 375 for about ten minutes while prepping pork. Rub Gateway onto pork tenderloin and sear in an oiled pan over high heat, rotating every couple minutes to ensure even sear. Transfer to sheet pan and bake for 15 minutes, flip pork & veggies, and bake for another 10-15 minutes until pork internal temp has reached at least 145 degrees and veggies are tender. Allow pork to rest before slicing.
—Christina, Human Resources
Loaded Sweet Potatoes with Candied Bacon
Protein: Thick cut bacon
Veggies and Toppings: Sweet potatoes, room temperature butter, and sliced chives
Spice Blend: Gateway to the North Maple Garlic Seasoning
One of our most popular blends, this seasoning is sweet, savory, and made with real Wisconsin maple sugar. Named after the maple industry hub of Marinette County, Gateway to the North compliments pork, baked beans, and sweet potatoes.
Method: Preheat oven to 375. Stab potatoes with a fork, drizzle in olive oil, and wrap in foil. Bake potatoes for 60 minutes or until they are easily pierced with a knife. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange strips of bacon so that they lay flat with no overlap. Bake bacon for 6-10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and sprinkle with Gateway to the North. Return bacon to the oven and bake until crispy, about 4 minutes more. Slice potatoes open, drop a piece of butter in, and garnish with pieces of candied bacon and chives.
—Geoff, Marketing
Lemony Za’atar Chicken and Potatoes
Protein: Chicken drumsticks
Veggies or Side Dish: Red potatoes, peeled and quartered.
Spice Blend: Za'atar
From the Arabic for thyme, our za'atar is mixed with lemony sumac, nutty sesame, minty hyssop, and oregano. Spread it on a pita with olive oil, or sprinkle it on roast vegetables, meatballs, and kebabs.
Method: Mix 6 tablespoons of olive oil, 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, 3 tablespoons of za'atar and salt/pepper to taste. Evenly coat drumsticks and potatoes and allow to marinate for at least 20 minutes. Spread onto a prepared baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with lemon slices and garnish with fresh herbs.
—Vanessa, Director of Marketing
Homestyle Chorizo Tacos
Protein: Ground pork
Veggies or Side Dish: Chopped onions, cilantro, and pico de gallo salsa.
Spice Blend: Mexican Chorizo Seasoning
Mexican style chorizo is a fresh version of Iberian sausage. Take our spice blend and mix it with ground pork shoulder, ground turkey, or ground tofu to make homestyle Mexican chorizo. Perfect for tacos or a breakfast skillet.
Method: Season two pounds of ground pork with six tablespoons of Chorizo seasoning and two tablespoons of lime juice or red wine vinegar. Fry the seasoned meat in a large skillet, using a spatula to break up the meat. Serve with warm tortillas and toppings of choice.
—Charlie, Chief Operations Officer
Baked Mediterranean Chicken
Protein: Chicken thighs, bone in and skin on.
Veggies or Side Dish: Baked asparagus, roasted potatoes, or arugula salad.
Spice Blend: Mediterranean Herb Blend
This all-in-one blend can be used for poultry, pork, or roasted potatoes. Our Mediterranean Herb Blend is made to be a perfect-every-time solution for the beginner cook, or to help hurry along a thirty-minute meal.
Method: Place chicken on a sheet pan. Juice a lemon, add a splash of olive oil, sprinkle liberally with Mediterranean Herb Blend, toss chicken until coated. Cover and bake at 375 for 30 minutes.
Uncover and continue baking at 425 till the chicken skins are golden and crispy with an internal temperature of 165. (You can add asparagus at this time too.)
—Chasity, General Manager, The Spice House Evanston
Stovetop Thai Curry
Protein: Diced chicken, tofu, or tempeh
Veggies or Side Dish: Jasmine rice, bell peppers, carrots, or cauliflower.
Spice Blend: Thai Red Curry Powder
This Red Curry Powder is versatile, medium in heat, redolent of galangal and lime, and delicious when combined with coconut milk. Add fish sauce or vegetable oil to create a curry paste.
Method: Make a curry paste with 2 tablespoons of Thai Red Curry Powder and 1 tablespoon of fish sauce—or vegetable oil if making vegan.
In a large pot, mix curry paste with a can of coconut milk, bring to a boil, add your protein of choice along with diced bell peppers, carrots, cauliflower or whatever veggies you want. Simmer for 5-10 mins.
Serve over rice with green onions, cilantro, and chile flakes.
—Clayton, Manager, The Spice House Milwaukee