Summer Salad Playbook

We’re keeping the spirit of summer alive with a rainbow of satisfying salads. From full-on entrées to sides that make any meal a feast, these well-spiced salads are sure to steal the show. Whether you crave something fresh and light or bold and hearty, there’s a salad here for every appetite. For especially quick and crowd-pleasing dressings, skip the pre-made bottles and whip up our own using our Nigella Caesar or Ranch Seasoning blends. It’s tart, savory, vegan, and whips up in no time. To make a quick dressing, mix 1/4 cup Nigella Caesar spice with 1/3 cup water and 1 cup vegetable oil. Whisk it all together and you’ve got a creamy, flavor-packed vegan dressing in minutes. For a tangy, creamy, herb-packed dressing perfect for salads, veggies, or dipping just about anything, combine one cup of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt with a tablespoon of Ranch Seasoning, a big squeeze of lemon, a dash of olive oil, and a pinch of salt.    Fajita Steak Salad For a large summer gathering, you want a dish that pleases the crowd with minimal fuss. This fajita steak salad delivers satisfying grill fare without excess effort or mess — and it’s delicious to boot. Hearty but not too heavy, it’s perfect alongside grilled corn or a cold margarita for even more summer goodness. Get the recipe. Mexican Street Corn Salad  This street corn salad captures all the smoky, tangy flavors of classic elote — without the cob. Cuban Spice brings warmth and balance, and the mayo-free recipe is ideal for summer gatherings. Get the recipe. Nigella Watermelon Salad  Sweet, tart, and just a little spicy, this watermelon salad balances juicy fruit with sharp arugula and nutty Nigella Seeds. Quick to toss together and easy to scale, it’s a standout at any summer picnic. Get the recipe. Tadka Carrot and Cauliflower Salad The warm tadka of Brown and Yellow Mustard Seeds, Cumin, Turmeric, Chile, and Asafoetida brings deep flavor and gentle heat to this versatile salad. A squeeze of lime brightens the dish and brings everything together. Get the recipe.

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Orange Tarragon Ricotta Toasts with Asparagus

Bright, herbaceous, and effortlessly elegant, these little toasts are the kind of appetizer that disappears as quickly as you can set them out. Creamy ricotta gets a citrusy, aromatic lift from our Orange Tarragon blend, then pairs with crisp asparagus and buttery pecans for layers of flavor in every bite. Easy to assemble and beautiful on Kana's sleek cutting board, they’re a go-to for cocktail parties, casual gatherings, or whenever you need a fresh snack that feels a little special.    

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Cold Brew Tea, but Make It Easy

Skip the bitter — cold brew green tea is your summer iced tea upgrade We love green tea, but it sure is fincky — high-maintenance, even. If the water's too hot, it gets bitter. Steep it too long? Same deal.  There’s a better way. Cold Brew Iced Tea is 🔥 Just like coffee, green tea can be cold brewed. Cold brewing uses time, rather than heat, to gently extract the green tea, leaving you with a cup that’s fresh and earthy, with less bitterness and astringency and no thermometer needed! Whip Up a Batch Use 1 tablespoon of green tea per 12oz of cool or room temperature water. Combine in a jar or bottle, give it gentle swirl, and let it steep. For a light infusion: steep for at least 15 minutes For a stronger cup: steep in the fridge overnight Strain and sip, or dress it up with fruit, cucumbers, or fresh herbs like mint and rosemary.Experiment with timing to find your perfect brew, and remember that different styles of green tea will infuse more or less quickly, so don’t be afraid to play around.

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July 4th Picnic Recipes

July 4th is just around the corner, and whether you’re planning a backyard bash, a park picnic, or a relaxed day with friends we’ve put together a collection of tried and true recipes packed with flavor for a celebration to remember. Tar Heel Sliders With Carolina Slaw Inspired by the tangy, smoky flavors of Carolina BBQ, these sliders featuring our Tar Heel BBQ Rub are the quintessential summer party snack. Double the batch — they’ll go fast. Get the recipe.  Emerald City Potato Salad This recipe featuring Emerald City Seasoning brings bright, herbaceous flair — giving potato salad an overdue glow-up. It’s the prettiest version you’ll ever make, but beware: leftovers are unlikely. Get the recipe. Lavender Blueberry Hand Pies Hand pies are the perfect picnic dessert. No fork, no fuss — just sweet, flaky deliciousness. Take them on the go to enjoy the fireworks! Get the recipe.

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Rhubarb Season Recipes

Tart, vibrant, and only here for a short time — rhubarb is one of spring’s brightest arrivals. From crowd-pleasing desserts to a blushing pink gin cocktail, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite ways to put this seasonal star to good use. Rhubarb Gin Fizz Tart rhubarb meets the floral spice of Grains of Paradise in this refreshing spring cocktail. The spice adds a gentle heat and complexity — think Ginger meets Cardamom — for a drink that’s bright, uplifting, and ready for warm-weather sipping. Get the recipe.  Chimichurri Rhubarb Slaw Rhubarb takes the spotlight in this vibrant, crunchy slaw. Often overlooked as a vegetable, raw rhubarb brings tart, fruity brightness and a satisfying snap. It’s paired with a colorful mix of purple cabbage, carrots, and shallot for layers of flavor, texture, and eye-catching appeal. A vinegar-based dressing seasoned with our bold Chimichurri Spice blend ties it all together, adding earthy depth and mild heat. It’s the perfect spring side — fresh, zippy, and anything but ordinary. Get the recipe. Slow-Roasted Leg of Lamb with Rhubarb-Orange Glaze Give boneless leg of lamb the royal treatment with Ras el Hanout and Moroccan Meyer Lemon Paste. Ras el Hanout is a spice merchant's showcase of their finest flavors, and ours is a blend of 24 spices with sweet and savory, piquant and floral notes blended to perfection. Combined with Moroccan Meyer Lemon Paste and marinated overnight, it is an easy prep for this slow-roasted leg of lamb. Get the recipe. Rhubarb Regelach This recipe is a true keeper, with a surprisingly easy-to-make dough that relies on the magic of whipped butter and cream cheese. While the soft dough chills, prepare a luscious jam with a classic pairing of strawberries and rhubarb. Cook it down to the perfect consistency, ready to be spread and rolled between the dough. For a tantalizing twist, we chose the concentrated flavor of Ginger and added a secret ingredient — Mace. This lighter and peppery spice complements the tangy fruit, enhances the lemon zest, and fills the jam with a sweet and aromatic spice allure. Get ready to savor each bite of these heavenly treats. Get the recipe.  

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Cinco de Mayo Recipes

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  Today commemorates Mexico’s victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862, but has also become a day to celebrate Mexican heritage more broadly, especially in the United States.  We’re sharing a collection of some of our favorite Mexican recipes in honor of the holiday. Enjoy your tacos and margaritas today, and bookmark these delicious ideas for any day you want a fresh taste of Mexico on your table. Salsa Roja Native to Chihuahua in Northern Mexico, this salsa roja is the base for many Mexican cuisine staple dishes, including enchiladas, chilaquiles, chile colorado, and pozole. Guajillo chiles are the foundation and are seasoned with garden herbs like Mexican Oregano, Thyme, Bay Leaf, and Garlic. If you've never played with whole chiles, this sauce is a great staple to learn. Get the recipe. Chile con Queso y Papas This authentic Mexican dish, unfortunately almost impossible to find in restaurants, combines our Adobo with roasted Hatch green chiles, Poblano chiles, diced tomatoes, and Yukon gold potatoes in a saucy, cheesy delight. Get the recipe. Get the recipe. Arroz con Leche Mexican Chocolate Rice Pudding, known as "Arroz con Leche," is a quick and comforting dessert that ingeniously utilizes leftover plain white rice. It effortlessly comes together in minutes, thanks to our Mayan Cocoa. Get the recipe.

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Our favorite ways to use Creole Spice

This time of year always brings to mind the food and flavors of New Orleans, so we’ve been breaking out our Creole Spice to capture some of that magic at home.  The origin of Creole seasoning is a collaboration of many different cultural food traditions including French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, a variety of African nations, and the Indigenous Peoples of the Louisiana region. The result is a layered, complex flavor with mild to medium heat and a whole lot of history. The base of any good Creole dish is celery, onion, and bell pepper — the “holy trinity” in both Creole and Cajun cuisine. Our Creole Spice blend starts there and layers on garlic, herbs, and chiles for a seasoning that feels right at home in gumbo, étouffée, and jambalaya.  Seasoned RiceFor one cup of dry long-grain rice, add one to two teaspoons of Creole Spice. Cook as usual. You can adjust the amount of spice to your taste. Shrimp MarinadeFor one pound of shrimp, combine ⅓ cup of olive oil, two cloves of minced garlic, a pinch of salt, and one tablespoon of Creole Spice in a large bowl. Toss in the shrimp and stir until well-coated. Marinate, covered, in the fridge for 15-30 minutes before cooking. Spiced MayoScoop half a cup of mayo into a small bowl, add Creole Spice one teaspoon at a time and stir in completely, tasting each time until it’s your desired flavor and consistency. Season with salt and a squeeze of lemon to taste. Use on sandwiches, burgers, and for dipping french fries or fried fish.

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Voodoo Jalapeño Poppers

We've had a bumper crop of jalapeño peppers from the garden this year, and that means POPPERS! Autumn is chile season, though jalapeños are readily available at the grocery store year round. The flavor buzz from these was well worth the effort of seeding all those little suckers, but do wear gloves! The warm bite of jalapeño with smoky paprika in the cheese and the Voodoo sprinkle on top of these poppers goes down well chased by a rich porter. Enjoy a whole platter by yourself while you watch the game like we did, or serve them up at your next fall fête.

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Harissa Spiced Pecans

We never tire of whipping up different spiced nut combinations. Salty or sweet, hot or mild, there are endless combinations to try. Harissa Spiced Pecans are especially addictive, though, because they have it all: mild chile and smoky, savory spice, balanced perfectly with just enough brown sugar. These give a crunchy flavor punch to everything from garden salads to a pre-game cheese ball. But really, the best way to enjoy them is straight out of the oven.This recipe is easy to make and not too sweet. Spiced nuts are a welcome treat for last minute gatherings or entertaining.

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