Coriander Fennel and Garlic Seasoning Blend

Coriander, Fennel, and Garlic Seasoning (CFG) blend. My favorite spice blend for fish, chicken, and veggies. Coriander, fennel, and garlic make a bright, versatile rub for any meal. Store these whole spices in a grinder for a fresh, aromatic punch that beats pre-ground every time.

Jump to:

• Equipment
• Ingredients Notes and Substitutions
• How to make Coriander, Fennel, and Garlic Seasoning in pictures
• Coriander Fennel and Garlic Seasoning Blend Recipe
• How to store Coriander, Fennel, and Garlic Seasoning
• What should I season with Coriander, Fennel, and Garlic Seasoning?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Related Posts
• 💬 Comments

I like having seasoning blends ready in my pantry as a grab-and-go flavor to add to my meals. This blend is my favorite for fish and chicken: a blend of coriander, fennel, and garlic, with salt and pepper. I prefer Salt Pepper and Garlic (SPG) Seasoning or All-Purpose Seasoning for beef (especially SPG and steak), but this CFG seasoning works with almost everything else, especially on vegetables.

Equipment

• A Spice grinder for whole grain spices (I like the vase grinders from Kuhn Rikon), or a jar with a shaker lid for pre-ground.
• A funnel (to keep the spices contained when adding them to the grinder or shaker jar.)
  

Ingredients Notes and Substitutions

Different Spices: If you want to use other spices, go right ahead, but I particularly like this combination. A good alternative is to substitute cumin seed for the fennel seed - cumin and coriander go well together - and I'm working on a different spice blend for that combination.

Add some heat: If you want to add some spicy heat with this seasoning, add a tablespoon (or two) of crushed red pepper flakes with the spices.

Should I toast the spices? I don't toast the spices for seasoning blends, because they lose their flavors quicker after toasting. I want this seasoning blend to last in the pantry, so I leave the spices untoasted.

Can I substitute Kosher salt for the Coarse sea salt? Kosher salt doesn't work as well in a grinder as coarse salt, so I don't recommend it. (Kosher salt has flaky crystals, and they don't grind as evenly as the big chunks of coarse salt.) That said, if you have to, weigh out 65g of kosher salt to replace the ¼ cup of coarse sea salt.

Can I make salt-free Coriander Fennel and Garlic seasoning? Absolutely! Just skip the salt. (This is for my uncle Warren and anyone else on a low-sodium diet. Or when I'm brining or dry-brining, and I want to separate the salting from the seasoning.)

How to make Coriander, Fennel, and Garlic Seasoning in pictures

Mix up the seasoning

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and stir until thoroughly mixed. Store in an airtight container (for pre-ground spices) or spice grinder (for the whole-grain spice version).

Print

How to store Coriander, Fennel, and Garlic Seasoning

If you make it with ground spices and keep it in an airtight container, it will last for a year before it loses its flavor. The grinder version will keep even longer than that; the salt and peppercorns last for a long time. The coriander seed, fennel seed, and minced garlic will lose some flavor after a while, but they keep better than ground garlic powder and onion powder. It will last for at least two years, probably more, before losing too much flavor.

What should I season with Coriander, Fennel, and Garlic Seasoning?

It is fantastic on seafood - It's a make-ahead rub from my favorite grilled salmon recipe, Grilled Salmon With Coriander-Fennel Spice Rub - but any seafood will work with it. It's also great on chicken; I made chicken legs with it the other day, and I've used it on boneless skinless breasts and thighs in the past. (Or as a dry brine on a whole chicken - season it the day before and store the chicken in the refrigerator for an amazing roast chicken.)

It works well on pork chops, too, or pork tenderloin.

For vegetables, I've used it on asparagus, green beans, and broccoli, and it goes particularly well with carrots. It's a very versatile seasoning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use a spice grinder for Coriander, Fennel, and Garlic Seasoning?

This is the same question as "Why use a pepper grinder?" because the answer is "Because spices, like peppercorns, taste much better fresh ground." (My recipes almost always recommend fresh ground black pepper.) Coriander, fennel, and peppercorns are more flavorful if they are fresh ground, so I keep my CFG seasoning in a spice grinder.

How do I know how much Coriander, Fennel, and Garlic Seasoning I'm grinding?

I eyeball it. I usually use CFG seasoning when I'm not measuring carefully. If it looks like it's seasoned enough, I'm good. That said, I also measured the grinding rate from my favorite Kuhn Rikon Vase grinders. I measured 30 grinds to get ½ teaspoon of seasoning, so when I want a specific amount, I count as I grind.

Related Posts

Looking for a seasoning to kick it up a few notches? For a similar seasoning blends, try my Salt Pepper Garlic (SPG) Seasoning or All-Purpose Seasoning. For more specific flavor profiles, try my Cajun Rub Recipe,  Sichuan Roasted Pepper Salt, or for a BBQ, my Homemade Barbecue Rub. 

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