Name: Spicy Cowboy Sparkle Dust
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1-1/2 ounce package dried guajillo peppers; 4 tablespoons kosher salt; 2 tablespoons dried granulated garlic; 2 tablespoons sugar; 2 tablespoons ground cumin; 2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon ground thyme

Spicy Cowboy Sparkle Dust: My Lazy-Day Secret is a homemade seasoning mix composed of traditional Tex-Mex spices. Perk up your meat, fish, or veggies with some sparkle dust whenever you need a quick flavor boost.

SPICY COWBOY SPARKLE DUST --scattered on brown paper

Sometimes I’m a lazy cook.

Don’t bother me with a recipe and don’t make me pull out a cookbook. Just give me some sparkle dust (seasoning mix) to transform my plain meat or veggies into something wonderful and marvelous.

My favorite homemade seasoning mix is slightly adapted from A Cowboy in the Kitchen by Grady Spears of Reata Restaurant fame. Yes, there are a bazillion rubs and seasoning mixes on the market (see my cabinet for a few half-empty jars of mystery spices), but I prefer to make it myself so the ingredients will be fresh, and then I’ll know exactly what’s in there.

Don’t think this mix is just for the grill and/or steaks. We love it on chicken, ribs, pork roast, fresh corn, squash, and almost any Mexican recipe that calls for chili powder-type flavors.

Dried peppers are readily available at my grocery store–for cheap. Experiment with other types of chilies, especially if this specific kind is not available.

Pull off the stems and dump out the seeds. Grinding the seeds along with the peppers will yield even more heat if that’s what you’re after, but not me, so I throw them away.

I don’t use this coffee grinder for coffee ever since I discovered this German coffee online. The grinder has been repurposed solely for grinding spices.

collection of ingredients needed to make Cowboy Sparkle Dust

My latest obsession is a label maker. Can you tell?

Here’s one example of the way I use this seasoning mix. Sprinkle over the top to your taste and grill, bake, or cook as desired.

Did you try this recipe and enjoy it? Consider helping other readers (and me) by returning to this post. Leave a rating on the recipe card itself underneath the picture. Although always appreciated, comments aren’t required.

If you have a question or tip to share, please leave it in the regular comments after the recipe so I can answer back. Or, email me privately: paula at saladinajar.com.

Thank you for visiting!
Paula

Spicy Cowboy Sparkle Dust

Yield: 1-1/2 cup

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

A blend of ground chili peppers, salt, and other seasonings to add flavor to meats and veggies

Ingredients

1 1-1/2 ounce package dried guajillo peppers
4 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons dried granulated garlic
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon ground thyme

Instructions

Remove stems from peppers, split them, and take out the seeds.
Place into a skillet set on medium and cook until dark and crispy. Be careful not to let them burn.
Remove skillet from stove and allow peppers to cool. Break crispy peppers into smaller pieces and use a coffee grinder to grind into a powder.
In small bowl, combine ground peppers and remaining ingredients.
Store in a covered jar in the pantry. Does not need to be refrigerated.