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    Home » Seasoning Mix

    Spicy Fish Seasoning (64 cents/batch)

    Published: Aug 18, 2021 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
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    Enjoy the ease and out-of-this-world taste of home-cooked fish when you use this simple and spicy fish seasoning. With just a few spice cupboard basics, you’ll be set for flavor.

    Tasty on cooked fish and shrimp as well as stirred into seafood salad, it’s also delicious to season dressings or marinades as well.

    salmon with spicy fish seasoning plated with potatoes and green beans. this …
    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Recipe costs
    • More Great Fish Recipes
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Warm and Spicy Fish Rub

    Fish doesn’t need a lot of fuss. That’s the beauty of it. Whether you serve an herb butter to create an instant sauce or sprinkle on a homemade fish seasoning, a fish dinner can be absolutely fuss-free and delicious.

    Serve cooked fish alongside steamed or grilled vegetables and a side of dill potatoes for a fantastic supper. I like to top my salmon with big dollops of Greek Yogurt Tartar Sauce. So good!

    Why Make This

    It’s less processed. When you make your own spice mixes, you get to control what goes into the mix! No excess preservatives or fillers!

    It’s quick to make. Making a custom spice blend takes just a few minutes and it really speeds up meal prep. No measuring and messing around — just quick and easy flavor.

    It’s delicious. The ginger, cayenne, and garlic give it a little kick which is a nice for livening up the taste buds. Go light if you’re timid on the spice scale or rub it in thickly if you like some heat. You can grill, saute, or broil the fish pieces and serve with a few lemon wedges. Easy peasy.

    Ingredients

    ingredients for fish seasoning in glass dish.

    This seasoning is perfect on fish! It’s warm and slightly spicy. It’s easily made with herbs and spices already in your pantry.

    You’ll want to grab the following from the cupboard: garlic powder, salt, paprika, dried dill, dried thyme, ground ginger, cayenne pepper, black pepper

    If you are missing one or two of the dried herbs it won’t make a huge difference to the overall recipe, though they do make a pretty festive party altogether.

    For most money savings, purchase herbs that you’ll use often in bulk and store them in the freezer to extend their shelf life. If you don’t think you’ll use a large portion of any of the herbs listed, you can usually purchase just a small amount, sold by weight, at natural food grocery stores, such as Sprouts.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    fish seasoning in a small dish next to a plate of salmon pieces.

    Mixing up this spice rub takes just minutes. Measure out the different spices in a jar or dish with a lid. Stir well to combine. Cover and store in a cool, dry place.

    To use the blend: Brush fish fillets or steaks with cooking oil; season heavily with a custom spice blend, and cook in a skillet or on the grill.

    FAQs

    What spices go well with fish?

    Since fish is served worldwide, there’s a wide variety of spices and herbs that go well with fish, including chives, parsley, ginger, tarragon, summer savory, smoked paprika, and dill. I’ve included many of them in this fish seasoning.

    How do you add flavor to fish?

    You can flavor fish before or after cooking it. Use a fish seasoning or rub prior to cooking. Add an herb butter, lemon wedges, or tartar sauce.

    What temperature do you cook fish at?

    The ideal cooking temp of fish is generally between 350 to 400 degrees F. What’s more important, however, is to cook the fish to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, using an instant read thermometer.

    Recipe costs

    Knowing how much it costs you to prepare a recipe can help you decide if it’s the type of recipe to make regularly or one you might want to save for special occasions. Let’s crunch some numbers and see how this recipe pencils out.

    • garlic powder – $0.12
    • salt – $0.02
    • paprika $0.02
    • dill – $0.37
    • thyme – $0.01
    • ginger – $0.07
    • cayenne – $0.02
    • black pepper – $0.01

    A batch of spicy fish seasoning costs just $0.64 per batch. A similar commercial spice at the grocery store costs $2.99. Homemade is cheaper!

    How to save more

    Here are some of the strategies you can use to make this recipe more economical:

    • Stock up on ingredients when they are on sale. When I find regular kitchen staples on sale, I buy a lot. I’m currently using a price book to track prices and that’s saving me money. For this recipe, keeping an eye on the price of fish and bulk spices can help keep the price down.
    • Buying in bulk – Dill is the most expensive ingredient in this recipe. Search for it at the lowest price you can find. Using dried herbs and spices within 3 to 6 months is key to maintaining their flavor. It would make sense to buy small bottles, however small bottles are pricier than larger ones. For herbs spices that I use in great quantity, I buy large packages from Costco or Amazon. I fill my small jar and then store the larger package in the freezer to extend its shelf life. For spices I use infrequently, I buy small amounts from the bulk jars at the health food store. In this way, I always have potent dried herbs and spices.
    • Grow and dry your own dill. Dill is super easy to grow and is a prolific plant. Grow a plant and dry the leaves for cheap!
    meal prep boxes with green beans, salmon, and potatoes with tartar sauce.

    More Great Fish Recipes

    • How to Make the Best Tuna Sandwich
    • Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
    • Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta
    • Tuna Macaroni Salad (45 cents/serving)

    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    spicy fish rub in glass bowl
    Print Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    5 from 4 votes

    Warm and Spicy Fish Rub

    Enjoy the ease and out-of-this-world taste of home cooked fish when you use this simple warm and spicy fish rub for seasoning.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Servings: 4 teaspoon
    Calories: 5kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $0.64
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon dried dill
    • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients. Store in an airtight container in the cupboard or freezer.
    • To serve: Brush fish steaks or fillets with oil. Sprinkle a generous amount of seasoning on the fish and rub it in. Cook the fish over a hot grill until it begins to flake. Alternatively, you can broil or saute the seasoned fish. You can tell the fish is done when it pulls apart easily.
    • Serve immediately.

    Notes

    Here are some of the strategies you can use to make this recipe more economical:
    • Stock up on ingredients when they are on sale. When I find regular kitchen staples on sale, I buy a lot. I’m currently using a price book to track prices and that’s saving me money. For this recipe, keeping an eye on the price of fish and bulk spices can help keep the price down.
    • Buying in bulk – Using dried herbs and spices within 3 to 6 months is key to maintaining their flavor. It would make sense to buy small bottles, however small bottles are pricier than larger ones. For herbs spices that I use in great quantity, I buy large packages from Costco or Amazon. I fill my small jar and then store the larger package in the freezer to extend its shelf life. For spices I use infrequently, I buy small amounts from the bulk jars at the health food store. In this way, I always have potent dried herbs and spices.
    Nutritional values are approximate and based on 1 teaspoon.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 5kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 582mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 162IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag Me Today!Mention @goodcheapeatsblog or tag #goodcheapeats!

    This post was originally published October 5, 2011. It has been updated for content and clarity.

    « Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe (44 cents/serving)
    Flavored Cream Cheese for Bagels (75 cents/batch) »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alice E

      July 27, 2019 at 8:07 am

      I just make my second batch of this! I’ve been meaning to check back in to thank you and rate this. I have used it both when sautéing fish and when baking fish. If not rubbing the fish, I just sprinkle it on the fish and cook it. Hubby said a definite yes when I asked if he wanted me to use it again! I keep some of it in one of those little shakers that look like a mason jar with a handle and shaker lid that they sell for salt/pepper shakers and the bulk of it in a small mason jar. I would give this 5 stars for sure, but don’t see the rating on this one so I’m just adding it in my comment. This and the IQF frozen fish portions make fish a quick meal for the two of us.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        July 29, 2019 at 8:15 am

        Yay! So glad you’re enjoying it! We are still working on moving all recipes to the starred format. It’s slow going with 1600 posts! Thank you so much, Alice, for popping in here with feedback. I appreciate you!

        Reply
    2. Alice E

      March 27, 2017 at 12:08 pm

      Thank you for re-visiting these standards for us newbies. This is timely for me since I’ve got a batch of fish in the freezer that I bought on sale.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        April 03, 2017 at 3:40 pm

        Let me know what you think!

        Reply
    3. Donna

      March 25, 2017 at 11:03 am

      I tried it on tilapia his week and it was amazing. Next up is salmon. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        April 03, 2017 at 3:40 pm

        Glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    4. Heather @ My Overflowing Cup

      September 09, 2014 at 6:09 pm

      I’m getting ready to make this for about the 100th time. My whole family loves this – thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        September 16, 2014 at 7:38 am

        Well, that’s great to know!

        Reply
    5. Morsels of Life

      October 06, 2011 at 7:07 pm

      Thanks for hosting! I’m always on the lookout for new fish recipes, and I think I’m trying this one next!

      Reply
    6. Mary E.S.

      October 06, 2011 at 10:14 am

      That sounds so good and since I am having trouble getting my boys to eat fish I think I am going to try this.Thank’s for a different way to fix fish.

      Reply
    7. Sandi

      October 06, 2011 at 5:28 am

      It may be breakfast time, but that looks really good to me right now. Have you found a particular type of fish best for this? I usually use salmon and tilapia, but I think I’ve only put salmon on the grill. If something else works better, I’m willing to give it a try. My son has not yet found any food originating from the ocean that he does not like, so we are open to new culinary adventures.

      Reply
      • Jessica

        October 06, 2011 at 10:41 pm

        @Sandi, we typically use salmon, tuna, or halibut. Sometimes shark or tilapia. It depends. We are careful not to have more than once a week and to vary the kinds so that the high mercury fish are rare in our diet.

        Reply
    8. Jen Blacker

      October 06, 2011 at 4:30 am

      Thank you so much for hosting. This week I shared my Mexican Rice recipe.

      Reply

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