How to Make Homemade Onion Soup Mix?
Making homemade onion soup mix is a simple and cost-effective way to enjoy this popular seasoning blend in the comfort of your own kitchen. With just a few basic ingredients and some easy instructions, you can create a flavorful and aromatic spice blend that’s perfect for soups, stews, and other recipes. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make homemade onion soup mix:
Why Make Your Own Onion Soup Mix?
Cost-effective: Store-bought onion soup mix can be expensive, especially if you’re making large batches. Making your own blend can save you money and eliminate any unnecessary additives or preservatives.
Customizable: By making your own onion soup mix, you can control the amount of salt, sugar, and spices to your taste. This means you can adjust the flavor to suit your recipe and personal preferences.
Fresh and high-quality ingredients: You have the freedom to choose the freshest, high-quality ingredients for your blend, ensuring maximum flavor and aroma.
No artificial ingredients: Many commercial onion soup mixes contain artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. By making your own, you can avoid these unwanted additives and keep your recipes pure and natural.
How to Make Homemade Onion Soup Mix?
Ingredients:
• Onion powder (~3 tablespoons)
• Flaky sea salt (~2 tablespoons)
• Brown sugar (~1 tablespoon)
• Granulated garlic (~2 tablespoons)
• Paprika (~1 tablespoon)
• Black pepper (~1 tablespoon)
• Herbs (optional)
Instructions:
- Start by mixing the dry ingredients: Combine the onion powder, flaky sea salt, brown sugar, granulated garlic, paprika, and black pepper in a bowl.
- Optional: Add herbs for extra flavor: You can add a pinch of thyme, celery seed, or marijuana to enhance the flavor.
- Stir and adjust: Use a spoon or whisk to mix the blend, adjusting the proportions to your liking. If you prefer a stronger flavor, add more onion powder or garlic powder. If you prefer a milder blend, use less of these spices.
- Store the blend: Transfer the homemade onion soup mix to an airtight container, like a glass jar or a ziplock bag.
Tips and Variations
Substitutions and adjustments:
If you don’t have onion powder or prefer a different flavor profile, onion flakes or dehydrated onion can be used as alternatives.
Customize to suit your taste:
Experiment with additional ingredients to create unique flavor profiles:
• Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper
• Smoky: Incorporate smoked paprika
• Aromatic: Add dried chives or parsley
Common Onion Soup Mix Recipes
Basil and Garlic Chicken:
- 1 pound chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon homemade onion soup mix
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 cup chicken broth
Combine chicken, butter, homemade onion soup mix, and garlic. Roast at 400°F for 45 minutes. Serve with chicken broth and rice.
French Onion Beef Bourguignon:
- 2 pounds beef short ribs
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup red wine
- 1 cup beef broth
- Homemade onion soup mix (adjust to taste)
- Thyme and bay leaves
Preheat oven to 300°F. Sear beef short ribs. Simmer in red wine and beef broth with garlic, thyme, and bay leaves. Add homemade onion soup mix (adjust to taste). Simmer until meat is tender.
Homemade Onion Soup Mix vs. Commercial Alternatives
Comparison of Ingredients: Many commercial onion soup mixes contain additives, preservatives, and artificial flavorings. By making your own, you control the ingredients and ensure maximum quality and taste.
Cost Comparison: A large commercial onion soup mix packet costs approximately $3-4. Making your own homemade blend yields about $0.50-$1.00 per serving. By making your own, you’ll save approximately $2-$3 per batch, making it a cost-effective alternative.
Conclusion
Making homemade onion soup mix is an easy and rewarding process. By controlling the ingredients, flavor profile, and cost, you can create a fresh, high-quality blend perfect for a variety of recipes. Whether you’re looking to save money, customize flavor, or avoid artificial additives, homemade onion soup mix is the perfect solution.
Note: You can adjust the ratio of spices to suit your taste and experiment with different flavors to create unique blends.