Spicy Salt {How to Make Your Own}

It is incredibly easy to make your own spicy salt. You can use commercially prepared pepper products, or make your own.

Anyone who has grown peppers in their garden knows that even with just a few plants, you can end up with a plethora of peppers. They are quite prolific.

Making your own spicy salt blends is a perfect way to use up peppers and is great for adding to all of your favorite recipes. They also make beautiful, thoughtful gifts for friends and family.

You can adjust the heat for everyone individually. Make some mild, some medium and others hot or nuclear. I think it’s safe to say that we all know folks who fit into all of the above categories.

What you need

• coarse sea salt
• pepper flakes, dried peppers, or commercially prepared ground or dried peppers

How to make it

1. Measure salt and peppers.
2. Place in a small spice grinder or in a mortar.
3. Pulse a few times to incorporate or crush with mortar and pestle or molcajete until incorporated.

Store in air tight containers for at least a year.

What additions are great in spicy salt?

• Spicy celery salt. Grind celery seed first so that it isn’t whole
• Italian salt blend. Add dried basil, parsley, oregano, granulated garlic and onion
• Mexican blend. Add cumin, coriander, Mexican oregano, chili powder
• Lemon pepper blend. Add dehydrated lemon peel and pepper corns. Process these before adding the coarse salt.

What types of chili peppers to use

Taylor your salt blends for the palates of your friends and family. They will be surprised to get a homemade spicy gift.

if you have a question regarding specific heat levels of pepper varieties, leave a comment below or check this article for information on over 130 varieties.

For milder salt blends

• poblanos
• Anaheim
• banana peppers
• guajillo
• mild cherry peppers

For medium blends

• chili de arbol
• japones
• pequin
• serrano
• fresno

For medium hot blends

• bishops crown
• calabrian
• cayenne
• jalapenos
• tabasco

For hot blends

• devil’s tongue
• habanero
• Scotch bonnet
• Jamaican hot
• African bird’s eye

Super hot blends

• Carolina reaper
• dragon’s breath
• ghost pepper
• infinity
• Trinidad scorpion

Why you should make this

• It’s perfect for hostess or holiday gifts.
• Great to keep on the counter or in the spice drawer for an unexpected kick to your dishes.
• Incredibly easy to make.
• Long term storage.

Tips for your success

• If you live in a very humid climate. Store larger quantities in air tight bags (vacuum sealing is a great option) and take out enough for a few weeks at a time.
• If salt has absorbed humidity from the air, pulse the mixture in the food processor a few times to loosen.
• Taste your mixes. Make sure they are not too spicy or the opposite, have little flavor.
• Be sure to use very dry peppers or pepper powders. Do not use peppers with any moisture in them.

If you are interested in drying your peppers, click here to learn 5 easy ways to do it.

To learn how to make hot pepper flakes, click here for a step by step guide.

What recipes to use it on

• chicken thighs
• chorizo tacos
• Spanish rice
• beef strip loin

Other homemade seasonings

• taco seasoning
• dry rub for pork
• pickling spice
• adobo seasoning
• vanilla sugar

Tools I use

• spice jars
• spice grinder
• mortar & pestle
• molcajete