Who doesn’t get excited about Fajitas for dinner? For your next Mexican night, you can make homemade fajita seasoning with spices you probably already have in the cupboard.
What is Fajita Seasoning?
There’s no uniform recipe for a Fajita seasoning. It’s a seasoning mix that simplifies making fajitas at home, and the flavour profiles vary from brand to brand. Spices such as chilli powder and cumin feature heavily, while some include paprika and herbs. While I’ve called this recipe a Fajita seasoning, it can also be used to make tacos with delicious results.
Keys Spices in Fajita Seasoning
Cumin – Cumin adds an earthiness to any dish. It is one of the essential flavours in many Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines. Ground cumin is easier to use and is listed here, but toasting and grinding cumin seeds will intensify the flavours.
Paprika – Paprika is the dried and ground flesh of different peppers. It can be oven-dried, sun-dried, or dried over an oak fire, producing smoky-flavoured paprika. I’ve listed sweet paprika here, but why not experiment with a smoked or hot variety to add a different dynamic to your fajitas or tacos.
Black Pepper / Salt – Black pepper adds a citrus note with a slight spiciness but also partners perfectly with salt. Salt is vital to every recipe as it helps to bring out the flavour of food, so vary the amounts you wish.
Other Spices
Coriander – Coriander adds a depth of flavour that works well with cumin and brings out citrusy flavours associated with Fajitas.
Oregano / Thyme – These can be used interchangeably for this recipe according to preference. However, they have slightly different flavours. Oregano will add a peppery lemon flavour, while thyme adds a sweeter note.
Cayenne Pepper – Cayenne pepper brings the heat. If you like it spicier, go heavier than the recipe suggests, but if you can’t stand the heat, remove it altogether. It’s up to you.
Other Flavours to Consider
Fresh Garlic vs Garlic Powder – This fajita seasoning includes garlic powder since it’s a dry seasoning mix. However, remove the garlic powder if you prefer fresh garlic to the dried versions. Just remember to chop a few cloves to add to the recipe.
Lemon / Lime Juice – Citrus is vital. I prefer lime juice, but lemon is a key flavour of fajitas. I’ve included neither in this fajita seasoning. Both must be added to another recipe, such as these chicken fajitas. However, I consider citrus juice a key ingredient in most Mexican dishes.
Fajita Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 Tsp Ground Cumin
- 1 Tsp Ground Coriander
- 2 Tsp Paprika
- 1 Tsp Oregano
- 1 Tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Tsp Thyme
- 1 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tsp salt
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a jar with a screw-top lid.
- Mix well, cover and store in a cool, dry place.
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