What is All Purpose Seasoning?

Whatever you are cooking, the chances are that at some point, you’ll want to add a bit of spice and herbs. That is why you’re here on our website in the first place, right?

Sometimes, it can prove really useful to have an All Purpose Seasoning to hand. You may not always know what your food needs to give it that extra little kick and flavour but an All Purpose Seasoning can make the difference between good and great.

All Purpose Seasoning is effectively just a spice mix but the key to it being all purpose is just how versatile it is. The more often you find yourself using it, the more useful it is. It’s just a really convenient way to add multiple pre-measured spices at the same time. 

So, seeing as that is what we’re all about here at Seasoned Pioneers, we thought we’d list our very own top All Purpose Seasonings below. We have a great variety available and most importantly, all our products use natural ingredients, unlike other competitors.

Lemon Pepper

This is our take on a true all purpose classic. You’ll find a nice lemon zest combining with strong pepper. For good measure, we’ve also added in garlic, onion, coriander and thyme. This really rounds off the blend and gives it that all-important ability to be as versatile as possible.

Although it’s unknown when these two spices were first combined (the identity of the inventor was never documented and lost to history), it’s not unreasonable to connect the dots and argue that India was the origin. Both the lemon and black peppercorn originate from India and feature heavily throughout Indian cuisine.

Nowadays, you’ll find this seasoning can be used for all sorts, including flavouring potatoes and meats such as beef burgers. It can also rejuvenate leftovers in the fridge such as any soups and sauces you may have lying around. We’ve even used it sprinkled on crackers with our cheeseboards. As you can see, it really is an all-rounder and your kitchen will be richer for it!

Wild Herb Cooking Seasalt

Wild herb cooking salt is another very versatile all-rounder that will give you an instant flavour boost.

If you’re tired of the same old plain and boring table salt, then this is the ideal replacement. The vibrant mix of sea salt, thyme, lavender, black pepper, marjoram, rosemary, oregano, savory and tarragon really enhances your dishes.

Furthermore, when you compare it with table salt, seasalt is less processed and contains more trace nutrients (including potassium, iron, and calcium). It also has a larger particle size, meaning you’ll consume less sodium per teaspoon. In short, it’s healthier. Unsurprisingly, this is one of our most popular products.

Virgin Islands Spiced Salt

Similar to lemon pepper and wild herb cooking sea salt, Virgin island spiced salt is another brilliant all-rounder (we can highly recommend rubbing it into a shoulder of red meat).

This Caribbean salt blend consists of sea salt, nutmeg, clove, rosemary and thyme. We’ve hand blended it to ensure it’s really well rounded with a mix of herbal notes and sharp pepper.

Wondering how this one came about? Thank the British Navy! With the Virgin Islands being a British territory, the Navy would frequently stop here to pick a load up before the long crossing back home. Salt-based curing and seasoning continues to be practiced there to this day, with salt still harvested on the aptly named ‘Salt Island’.

Caribbean Adobo Spice Rub

Sticking with the Caribbean influence, ‘Adobo’ is the spanish word for ‘marinade’, ‘sauce’ or ‘seasoning’. It’s the immersion of raw meat in a stock (or sauce) that preserves and enhances its flavour.

Interestingly, in the Caribbean, adobo is instead used as an all-purpose seasoning, often as a dry spice rub. We blended this together using sea salt, white cumin seeds, red chillies, crushed fennel seeds and whole oregano leaves. Whether you’re cooking up a delicious stew, a warm soup or tasty sauce, this one makes for a fantastic base layer.

Quatre – Espices

What would a kitchen be without a bit of French influence? Translating as ‘four spices’ in French, this simple but effective spice mix is exactly that. Black pepper, nutmeg, cloves and ginger all combine for a warm, sharp peppery blend that can bring out real depth of flavour. We’ve found it particularly useful when braising rich meats in wine. In a word – magnifique!

Again, the origins for this All Purpose Seasoning are uncertain, but we do know it’s been in heavy use for many centuries, dating back to the grand kitchens of European courts in the middle ages. Interestingly, it has also made its way into the kitchens of the Middle East, as well as the French Caribbean.

Roasted Garlic Powder

Garlic is one of those staples used in seemingly every recipe known to man. Because of this, have you ever been halfway through cooking only to realise you have ran out? Our roasted garlic powder may just be a brilliant replacement!

Made from ground, dehydrated garlic cloves, the shelf life of your garlic is extended exponentially, allowing you to always have an incredibly versatile garlic flavour on hand. You will notice that we’ve roasted this which helps to mellow the more aggressive flavours that you may find in the fresh counterpart. It is a must have.

Paprika

Seeing out our list of top All Purpose Seasonings, paprika. Whenever you’re in need of a hot, spicy kick, paprika is the answer. It brings real heat and flavour to any dish (use it sparingly!).

Paprika is a ground spice made from the dried red fruits of the plant ‘capsicum annuum’. In other words, it’s crushed red peppers. The peppers used in making paprika originate from North America, in particular Central Mexico, where they have been cultivated for centuries. Subsequently, they were introduced to the Old World, when peppers were brought to Spain and Portugal in the 16th century by explorers such as Christopher Columbus. Today China and Peru are major exporters.

That is why you’ll find so many Spanish variants such as our hot and sweet options. Interestingly, the spread of these peppers in Europe eventually made it to Hungary and the word ‘paprika’ is actually Hungarian. Our traditional Hungarian variant is vastly different from its Spanish counterparts as it differs significantly in flavour.

Whichever All Purpose Seasoning you choose to experiment with we offer plenty of choice. Click to search our spice blends.