The island spice recipe you need to know

For many of us, the idea of an island vacation is a once-in-a-lifetime affair. It’s the stuff dreams are made of, which explains why so many honeymooners head for the islands. Visiting the Caribbean is not something you can do every day, but we’ve got something almost as good. It’s sure to add a little island spice to your life and you can do it as often as you like. Don’t go getting any funny ideas, though: We are, of course, talking about a home-made island spice recipe.

 

How to make your own island spice rub

Island spice recipes are as rich and as varied as island cultures. Island life operates at a slower and more relaxed pace than many of us are used to, and that extends to cuisine. Embrace it. In recent years, many island-inspired products have hit the market, from jerk sauce and seasoning to barbeque rubs and more. They’re all well and good, but we recommend taking the islander approach and improvising.

We’re going to walk you through a classic and versatile recipe for an island spice rub or seasoning. Feel free to interpret it as you see fit, to improvise. Take this as a suggestion, a guideline, and with a pinch of salt – literally!

Island spice seasoning recipe

We like to whip up a big batch of island spice rub ahead of time. Stored in an airtight container, it’ll last for weeks. Whenever city life is getting you down and you want something a little exotic for dinner, you’ve got a go-to spice mix that will liven up any dish.

Making your island spice seasoning is easy. Basically, you’re going to want to assemble your ingredients in a large bowl, mix ’em up and…that’s it. You’re done. Here’s what we like to include, but remember you can pick and choose as you like:

• Freshly cracked black pepper
• Ground white pepper
• Cayenne pepper
• Garlic powder
• Garlic salt
• Chinese five-spice
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon
• Ground cloves
• Ground ginger
• Sugar

Go heavy on the nutmeg and cinnamon if that’s your thing; add plenty of cayenne pepper if you want more of a kick. Mix and match quantities and ingredients, and trust your sense of smell along the way. If it smells good, you’re on the right track. When you’ve got your balance right, mix it up and stick it in a jar, lunchbox or another airtight container. Congratulations, you’ve saved a ton of money and just made your own patented island spice seasoning!

What to do with your island spice mix

Making your mix is only half the battle, of course. The real fun comes when it’s time to cook with it. Essentially, the island spice rub can be applied to whatever meat, fish or vegetable you want. Rub it, coat it and season it as you see fit, and be prepared to unlock a world of flavour. It’s island-inspired, after all, so seafood is a great choice. Add your mix to prawns or fresh fish once and you’ll never want to cook any other way. Pork, chicken, beef and bell peppers are all great, too. Get cooking!