Homemade Jerk Seasoning Rub Spice Mix Recipe- Easy, Frugal, Vegan and Paleo

This recipe makes much more than shown here,
there just was barely any left by the time I got around to writing this post.

As a foodie, one of the things I enjoy most is learning about combinations of flavors that I never otherwise would have put together, and seeing how amazing such an interesting combination of flavors tastes.

When I first heard about Jamaican jerk seasoning, it sounded really strange to me- the combination of allspice and thyme as it is sounded weird, add in nutmeg and hot pepper and soy sauce and you've got something that seems really fascinating and leaves me wondering who thought up the flavor combination to begin with. My mother is the type that would never even think of tasting such a thing, because in her mind, such combinations are scandalous, but once I tasted jerk seasoning for the first time I was in love.
So far I've used this jerk seasoning on roasted chicken and fish, and also in homemade chicken and fish jerky which I took on my trip to Belgium. (No, I didn't forget about that, I still plan on writing up about the other two days I was there as well as what I ate there!)
While not listed in the recipe (loosely based off of this one), since this is a dry rub which lasts longer, I tend to utilize this by mixing it with soy sauce (standard) and pineapple juice (a little less common and standard, but still found regularly in standard Jamaican cuisine). I can't say this recipe is 100% authentic, because I don't use scotch bonnet peppers since I can't find them locally, and I make mine a little less spicy so that my kids are willing to eat foods made with it. But I still would say it's "close enough".

Other uses for jerk seasoning is mixing it with mayo and using it as a spread, putting it on veggies, putting it in stews, etc... Vegan uses for it include jerk tofu, grilled jerk eggplant, on veggie burgers, etc... And to make it totally paleo, you can use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce when turning the spice mix into a marinade. Get creative and have fun with it- the sky's the limit!

Homemade Jerk Seasoning Rub Spice Mix Recipe- Easy, Frugal, Vegan and Paleo

Ingredients
2 tablespoons onion flakes
1 tablespoon thyme
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
1 heaping tablespoon all spice berries
1 tablespoon dried ginger
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 tablespoon nutmeg
1/2-3/4 teaspoom hot pepper flakes or to taste
1/2 tablespoon salt

Instructions:
1. Place all your ingredients in a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle and grind up until mostly smooth and uniform.

2. Use as you see fit, but ideally mixed with soy sauce/coconut aminos, something acidic and something sweet (I like pineapple juice, but lime juice and sugar or honey also work).

Enjoy!

Have you ever had anything made with jerk seasoning? What was it? Do you enjoy it? Do you make youe jerk seasoning at home or buy it? If you make it, what do you put in yours? Does this look like a recipe you'd try?