Spices are the most micro-nutrient dense foods and they bring so much flavor, life and health into a dish. They also make amazing gifts for friends and family! Here are my 6 favorite spice blend recipes.

Traveling to Europe for the Holidays with only a carry on I decided to gift the adults in my family spices and spice blends. My mom loves saffron and she makes killer Paella and Lebanese Chicken recipes with it. I will make morning sweet blends to go with oatmeal, yogurt and fresh fruit, Indian curry blends, Aphrodisiac blends, digestive tea blends and my Winter Hot Cocoa Blend with spices. I buy all my spices organic and over the years, have been procuring most of my spices (and teas) from Mountain Rose Herbs.

FALL DIGESTIVE TEA

This is an Ayurvedic recipe from Ashtanga Yoga Teacher and Ayurvedic Practitioner Kate O’Donnell. It uses Licorice root which counteracts the dry quality or Fall and Winter by helping the body hold water in the intestines and lubricate them (much like slippery helm and marshmallow root which you could substitute). Fennel reduces heat and inflammation in the gut while cinnamon and ginger warm the gut.

Dry Ingredients for 2

• 1/4 piece fresh ginger root
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder (or 1 stick)
• 1 tsp licorice root powder or 2 tsp chopped licorice root

To make spice teas, here’s a typical process. In a small pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add all the spices and bring to a simmer for 10-15 min. Pour through a small tea strainer into 2 mugs to serve. This is a tea you can sip with your meals too (about 6oz. Don’t over fill your belly with liquid).

HOT & SPICY MEDICINAL COCOA

Cocoa is a powerful aphrodisiac and I make a spicy cocoa with organic cocoa powder, aphrodisiac spices, and turn it into a medicinal drink by adding sex hormones balancing herbs Shatavari (for men and women) and maca. Sometimes I use ashwagandha instead of maca and shatavari. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that also supports sexual potency, as well as immune system strength, nervous system, the bones and so much more. My choice of herbs depend on my body’s needs. Keep it new and different!

Dry Ingredients for 2

• 2 generous TBSP raw cacao powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cardamom
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg powder (avoid if pregnant)
• 1 tsp Shatavari
• 1 tsp maca
• a dash cayenne pepper if you like it hot

Note I only buy nutmeg in their wholesome nut form and grate them myself. I prefer the flavor, and the nut lasts longer. To make the hot cocoa, you will need 2 cups of liquid, either milk or water or a mix of both, which is my preference. I pour 1/4 cup of coconut milk in each mug and whisk the powders in and pour boiling water on top, while continuing to whisk. You can sprinkle more dry cocoa powder and cinnamon or nutmeg on top for presentation, and even serve the hot cocoa with a cinnamon stick.

SWEET SPICE MIX

This spice mix is something I use every morning on my yogurt or oatmeal, as well as on fresh fruit. I LOVE IT so I make a big batch of it!

Dry Ingredients for a 4oz jar

• 3 TBSP cinnamon powder
• 3 TBSP ginger powder (you can also omit and instead grate fresh ginger root to top your breakfast)
• 2 TBSP cardamom powder
• 1 TBSP grated nutmeg

Another staple on my breakfast is raw cacao nibs. I love the bitter crunch! I keep it separate, but you could add it to the mix above (3TBSP).

PAELLA SPICE MIX

I love Paella and traveled all over Spain trying the different kinds. I love making rice with this spice mix and serve it with a side of leafy greens. The sweetness of the rice balances nicely the bitterness of the greens. And the olive oil, nuts or avocado can make it a complete dish. When I make a “quick” paella in my pressure cooker (it takes 15 minutes), I place the rice, water, spice mix together. Cook. then open the pot and place mussels and pressure cook for 2 more minutes (the time the mussels open and their juice run into the rice) and it’s done. Serve with fresh parsley. The spice mix makes the paella. Saffron is expensive but it is essential in this mix. It’s also a powerful aphrodisiacs.

Dry ingredients for 4 cups dry rice

• 2 good pinches of saffron, grounded in a pestle and mortar.
• 2 TBSP sweet paprika
• 1 TBSP smoked paprika
• 4 tsp onion and garlic powder combined
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp cumin powder for taste
• 1-2 cloves whole (or a pinch powdered)
• a sprinkle of dried herbs

AROMATIC MILD CURRY

I have been making my own curry for over a decade and used to ship it to my Detox Clients. I keep my curry in a glass jar away from the sunlight and use it in my Ayurvedic Cleanse Kichadi recipe and pretty much every coconut curry dishes I make. There is no chili powder so it is pretty mild. Black pepper and mustard seeds are the only “hot” ingredients. It smells amazing. You can reduce the amount of spices to purchase if you omit the whole seeds ingredients. I enjoy a curry with texture. This blend is a staple in my healthy kitchen.

Dry ingredients for a 6-8 oz jar

• 2 TBSP turmeric powder
• 2 TBSP cumin seeds
• 2 TBSP coriander powder
• 1 TBSP cumin powder
• 1 TBSP coriander seeds
• 1 TBSP fennel seeds
• 1 TBSP mustard seeds
• 1 TBSP fenugreek powder
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
• Optional: 1 tsp Ginger Root (I usually omit it and use fresh ginger root when I cook)

GARAM MASALA

Garam Masala is a lovely blend that taste sweet and hot. I do not use it enough to justify buying a pre-made jar at the store (remember spices last 1 year ground, 2 years in seed) and for this reason, I re-use the spices I already have to make my own blend. I use Garam Masala in my Hormonize Cleanse Butter Chicken dish using oyster mushrooms instead of chicken. Such a great way to eat mushrooms! Here is a simple Garam Masala recipe:

Dry ingredients for a 4 oz jar

• 2 TBSP cumin powder
• 3 tsp coriander powder
• 3 tsp cardamom powder
• 3 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1 tsp cloves powder
• 1 tsp nutmeg powder (I only buy nutmeg nuts and I grate them myself. They keep their flavor longer)

Making your own spice blends is such a fun winter activity too. When the weather is cold and dark outside it fills the whole house with amazing scent. I love it! If you have a favorite go-to spice recipe, I’d love to know about it! Share it in the comments below with the whole world.