- Prep5 min
Six spices in a jar, a good shake and you’re done. Zing Dynasty is an Asian spice blend that gives chicken, beef, eggs and stir-fried veg a south-east Asian kick with no chopping at all. Garlic, onion and ginger are all powders, so there’s nothing to peel. Five minutes, one jar, nothing to wash but a teaspoon.
Easier still: no lemongrass paste on hand? Lemon zest does the job. Mix a jar once and future-you has flavour on tap for four serves.
Can I manage this today?
- Spoon rating: 🥄🥄 Low Spoons
- Hands-on time: about 5 minutes (nothing hands-off)
- Main effort: measuring six spices into a jar and shaking it
- Chopping: none
- Standing and attention: none, so you can do it sitting at the bench
- Washing up: one jar and your measuring spoons
There’s only one sensible way to make this, so there are no paths to choose between.
Kerry’s notes
Spice blends are the cheapest bit of pantry insurance I know. Mix a jar, label it, and dinner has a head start all week.
The lemongrass paste goes in when you cook, not in the jar. Keep the dry blend airtight and the paste in its tube. Measure the spices into a small bowl first, then tip the lot into the jar. If your hand slips, the mistake stays in the bowl.
Yes, I could tell you what’s in those tubes. Leigh has a guide on ultra-processed food and a lot more patience for labels than I do. I’ll put the kettle on first.
What’s that ingredient?
Lemongrass paste
- What it is: lemongrass, mashed to a paste. It tastes tangy and lemony.
- What it does here: it’s the lemony note you find in Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian food.
- Where to buy it in Australia: Coles and Woolies sell Gourmet Garden tubes. Asian supermarkets sell lemongrass powder. Madame Flavour Lemongrass Lime & Ginger Tea Pods are stocked at most Coles and Woolies.
- How to keep it: once opened, keep the tube in the fridge.
- Easiest swap: lemon zest.
Why this recipe works
- No knife work. Every ingredient is a powder, a flake or a paste.
- Layered flavour: garlic and onion for the savoury base, ginger and pepper for warmth, chilli for heat and lemongrass for a lemony lift.
- You set the heat. Leave out the chilli flakes for a mild blend.
- One mix, many meals. The jar sits on the shelf ready for whichever spoon level you wake up with.
Ingredients at a glance
- Garlic powder: the savoury base, with no peeling.
- Onion powder: rounds out the garlic.
- Ground turmeric: earthy flavour and the golden colour.
- Black pepper: a gentle bite.
- Ground ginger: warm, sharp spice.
- Dried chilli flakes: the heat.
- Lemongrass paste: the lemony lift, added when you cook.
No Spoon Swaps
- Lemongrass paste in a tube: the easiest option. The ingredients list on the Gourmet Garden tubes includes oils, dextrose and maltodextrin, so check the label if you’re avoiding those.
- Lemongrass powder from an Asian supermarket: swap it in for the paste. It means a trip to a specialty shop.
- Madame Flavour Lemongrass Lime & Ginger Tea Pods: tip the contents of one into the blend. It adds lime and ginger, so the flavour shifts a little.
- Lemon zest: gives a fresh lift. You’ll need a lemon and a grater.
- Powders instead of fresh garlic and ginger: fresh gives a slightly stronger flavour, but the powders save all the peeling and work perfectly well here. Shortcuts count as real ingredients.
Substitutions and allergens
- Milder blend: leave out the dried chilli flakes.
- No lemongrass paste: use lemongrass powder, lemon zest or the tea pod contents (see No Spoon Swaps).
Allergen notes
- Every dry ingredient is a single spice, but spices are often packed in facilities that handle other foods. The iHerb labels for the turmeric and onion powder we link to say they’re made in a facility that may process allergens. Check the label on every spice you buy.
- Lemongrass paste in a tube: check the label for allergens.
Storage, freezing and reheating
- Pantry: keep the dry blend in a screw-top jar or airtight container in a cool, dry place. It keeps for up to 6 months.
- Fridge: once opened, keep the lemongrass paste in the fridge. Meals cooked with the blend: cool, refrigerate within 2 hours and eat within 3 days.
- Freezer: the dry blend doesn’t need it. Meals cooked with the blend freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge, use within 24 hours and don’t refreeze.
- Reheating: reheat meals cooked with the blend once only, until steaming hot all the way through.
Serving ideas
- Rub it over chicken or beef before cooking.
- Toss it through stir-fried veg.
- Stir it into scrambled eggs or mince.
- Want another blend in the jar line-up? Try the Shichimi Togarashi Spice Blend or browse all the sauces and seasonings.
- Not sure how to shop for the lemongrass? The low spoon grocery shopping guide helps.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use lemongrass paste?
No. Use lemongrass powder, lemon zest or the contents of a tea pod. They’re all in the No Spoon Swaps above.
Is it hot?
The dried chilli flakes are the only heat. Leave them out and it’s a mild blend.
How long does the blend keep?
Up to 6 months in an airtight jar in a cool, dry place.
Where do I find lemongrass paste?
Coles and Woolies sell it in tubes. Asian supermarkets sell lemongrass powder, which you can use instead.
Zing Dynasty – Asian-Inspired Spice Blend
Equipment
- Screw-top jar or airtight container
Ingredients
Spice blend
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp dried chilli flakes
Add when you cook
- ½ tsp lemongrass paste see notes
Instructions
Make the blend
- Add the garlic powder, black pepper, turmeric, onion powder, ginger and chilli flakes to a screw-top jar.
- Screw the lid on tightly.
- Shake the jar until no streaks of yellow or white powder are left.
- Store the jar in a cool, dry place.
Use the blend
- Add the lemongrass paste to your dish when you add the blend.
Notes
Nutrition
Made this? Tap a star.
Tap a star to rate. A name and email are only needed if you add a note.
How were your spoons with this one?
Tap one. It helps us check our spoon ratings. No name or email needed.
We only use this to check our ratings.
Liked this one?
Get a low-spoon recipe in your inbox each week
Easy, energy-saving dinners and the occasional guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
A final spoon-saving note
Mix a jar this arvo while the kettle boils, label it, and put it at the front of the pantry. Future-you will thank you at 6pm when dinner needs flavour and nobody has the energy to peel anything. Give it a go.
