Last Updated August 22nd, 2023 at 09:15 am by Lisa
Pickling Spice is an easy seasoning mix to create amazing Dill Pickles, Corned Beef Brisket, braised stews, soups, and rice. As a matter of fact, did you know it is great in marinades and as a brine to flavor meat? Grind it finely, mix it with a marinade, and inject in beef briskets as a tenderizer!
A homemade pickle spice is easy to make at home and a great way to use things up in the pantry or spice cabinet...
Pickling Spice Recipe
This is a classic pickling spice mix recipe. So what is pickling spice? Well, it has black peppercorns, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, dill seeds, allspice berries, bay leaves, and crushed red pepper flakes. Be sure to try this pickled egg spice recipe in my wildly popular Spicy Pickled Eggs recipe. And read on for lots more ways to use it in your cooking. So here is what is in pickling spice...
- coriander seed
- dill seed
- cinnamon stick
- whole allspice berries
- red pepper flakes
- bay leaves
- peppercorns black, pink, white, or mixed is fine
- yellow mustard seeds
- In a small bowl, combine all your spices.
- Crush the bay leaves and cinnamon sticks with your fingers into the bowl.
- Add some of the optional ones I listed below for additional flavor.
- Keep your spice mix in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, and use it within 6 months.
Storage Tips
Store your pickle spice mix in an airtight container in a cool place out of direct sunlight. I really like either these glass clamp jars or small spice jars.
Use within a few months. The fresher your spices, the stronger your seasoning blend will be in dishes.
Blend in a spice grinder, clean coffee grinder, or food processor, and add to a marinade.
More Pickling Spice Additions
You can add additional other whole spices to this recipe, try some or all of these:
- few whole cloves
- couple of star anise
- some juniper berries
- fennel seeds
- ground ginger
- mace
- couple of cardamom pods
- teaspoon of anise seeds
How To Use Pickling Spice
Try this blend in quick and canned pickled vegetables like Red Onions, carrots, jalapenos, butter pickles, Green Beans, and beets. You can boil a vinegar water solution, add this pickle spices, and let it cool. Then pour over the vegetables and refrigerate for simple, quick, vegetable pickles. Eat within a week. For a sweet taste, add a pinch of sugar.
Use a mini food processor, spice grinder, or mortar and pestle to grind the pickling spices. Mix the ground spices with your marinade and fill a meat injector. And inject the marinade into the beef brisket or meat you are cooking.
More Recipes To Use Pickling Spice
Baked Corned Beef Brisket has a delicious spice crust and juicy fork-tender slices. Make old-fashioned homemade deli-style Pickled Eggs with jalapenos, garlic, and pickling spice.
Tavern Bar Style Pickled Eggs are a popular bar food served for hundreds of years to hungry patrons. These spicy eggs get their bright cheery yellow color from chili peppers, turmeric, and pickling spice. This fun easy pickled egg recipe can be a healthy snack, appetizer, or cold hor d'oeuvre.
PRO TIP: One of the most popular ways to use homemade pickling spice is on Corned Beef, try my recipe! Toss the seasoning packet that comes with the meat from the grocery store. They are mostly just peppercorns, bay leaves, dill, and mustard seeds. You can make it super fresh and flavor-packed at home!
Pickling Spice FAQ
Homemade Pickling Spice is an excellent general seasoning. Besides corned beef, additionally, pop it into Pickled Eggs or delicious Quick Dill Pickles. These spices add characteristic flavor to pickles, and will certainly add complex flavor to braised stews, beans, and rice dishes as well.
For meat stews, tie the spice mix into a piece of cheesecloth tied with a long piece of butcher string and braise it in the pot or slow cooker until the meat is deliciously tender.
How Do I Make A Corned Beef Pickling Spice Packet?
To make a traditional corned beef for St. Paddy's day, a top chef's tip is to make your own corned beef spice packet!
PRO TIP: Toss the one that comes with the meat from the grocery store. The seasoning packets vary by brand and are mostly just peppercorns, bay leaves, dill, and mustard seeds. You can make it fresh and flavor-packed at home.
1 tablespoon coriander seed
½ cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon dill seed
1 tablespoon whole allspice berries
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
5 dry bay leaves
1 teaspoon black peppercorns (pink, white, or mixed whole peppercorns all work!)
2 teaspoons yellow mustard seeds
Mix in a small bowl. It will store at room temperature in small glass jar or airtight container for 3-4 months.
More Spice Mixes & Flavored Salts
Mix your own Pumpkin Pie Spice. Although, you can certainly buy it. But what a great way to use pantry spices, and its tastes so much better homemade!
Flavored Finishing Sea Salt Recipes; Sriracha, Pinto Noir, Mustard, Celery, and House Seasoning. This Savvy Kitchen Tip includes step-by-step instructions, recipes, and ideas on how to use your finishing salts.
Fire up the grill and use a Burger Seasoning that makes the juiciest flavor-filled Grilled Hamburgers. Mix up a batch of hamburger seasoning for your next cookout, grill, or BBQ party.
More BBQ Rub & Seasoning Recipes
My most popular seasoning mixes are this easy Homemade Grill & BBQ Rub to use as a rib rub, steak rub, chicken seasoning, or dry rub for pork. The best part, it is a great all-around steak seasoning, especially on a pork loin for Pulled Pork and ribs.
Make your own Cajun Seasoning Mix with a simple spice mix and take your Cajun cooking to the next level. Use on shrimp, oven fries, or in recipes for jambalaya, and classic gumbo. This spice blend would even work in a good hamburger for a Cajun twist, and you could add some more red pepper flakes if you like heat!
Learn how to dehydrate cherry tomatoes at home in the oven or by using a food dehydrator. Homemade dried cherry tomatoes are a tasty snack. Above all, add Sun Dried Tomatoes into sandwich wraps and pasta salads!
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Pickling Spice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coriander seed
- ½ cinnamon stick
- 1 tablespoon dill seed
- 1 tablespoon whole allspice berries
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 5 dry bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon peppercorns black, pink, white, or mixed is fine
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard seeds
Optional Variations
- 2 star anise
- 8 whole cloves
- 4 juniper berries
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 cardamon pods
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all your spices. Add some of the optional ones I listed for addition flavor.
- Keep in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid, and use within 6 months.
Notes
How To Use Pickling Spice
Try this blend in quick and canned pickled vegetables like Red Onions, carrots, jalapenos, butter pickles, Green Beans, and beets. You can boil a vinegar water solution, add this pickle spices, and let it cool. Then pour over the vegetables and refrigerate for a simple, quick, vegetable pickles. Eat within a week. For a sweet taste, add a pinch of sugar. Use a mini food processor, spice grinder, or mortar and pestle to grind the pickling spices. Mix the ground spices with your marinade and fill a meat injector. And inject the marinade into the beef brisket or meat you are cooking. More Recipe Ideas: Use not only adds characteristic flavor to pickles, but it also adds complex flavor to braised stews, bean, and rice dishes. PRO TIP: One of the most popular ways to use this spice mix is on Corned Beef Brisket, try my recipe! For meat stews, you can tie the spices into a piece of cheesecloth tied with a long piece of butcher string and braise in the pot or slow cooker until the meat is deliciously tender. It works well in crockpot or slow-cooker recipes, pot roast, soups, and braised meat dishes.Flavor Variations
You can add additional spices to add your basic mix, try some or all of these:
- a few whole cloves
- ½ cinnamon stick
- a couple of star anise
- some juniper berries
- ground ginger
- a couple of cardamon pods
Laura says
This pickling spice blend is amazing. My Grammy always made sweet pickles in the fridge but always used the store-bought pickling spice. The flavor was so much better with yours. Thanks Lisa!
Jessie Lamothe says
This is my go-to pickling spice for my Grandmother's bread and butter pickles recipe!! So easy to make and so much better than store-bought!
Lisa says
Wow! Oh Jessie that is so great that you are using this recipe on your Grandmother's pickles. Made my day, thank you so so much for your comment, and happy pickling this summer!
Seanna Borrows says
Love this pickling spice with your Jalapeno Pickled Eggs Recipe! Delish!! I'm trying it next with pork chops!
Jessica Robinson says
Love that I can make this simple yet really flavorful pickling spice at home with simple, store-bought ingredients!