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Home » Dairy-Free

Chinese Salt & Pepper Seasoning Recipe

Published: Feb 6, 2023 · Modified: Oct 10, 2024 by Lauren Woodger · Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links -This means I receive a commission for purchases made through those links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · Leave a Comment

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a white bowl containing salt and pepper spice seasoning, with a small wooden teaspoon in it.
a white bowl containing salt and pepper spice seasoning, with a small wooden teaspoon in it.

This Chinese Salt & Pepper Seasoning can be used to re-create your favourite Chinese restaurant & takeaway dishes or is also delicious sprinkled over meat, fish or tofu!

a white bowl containing salt and pepper spice seasoning, with a small wooden teaspoon in it.

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links - This means I receive a commission for purchases made though those links, at no cost to you. Please click here for further info*

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Making this Chinese Salt & Pepper seasoning is really simple. It’s full of flavour, made with basic store cupboard ingredients, and can be used to jazz up plenty of dishes and you want to know the best thing about making your own spice blend? No MSG!

Monosodium Glutamate or MSG as it is more widely known, is a flavour enhancer that is commonly added to Chinese food, along with canned soups and lots of other processed foods.

Some people can have a reaction to MSG and after consuming a food containing it, can feel nauseous, and experience headaches along with fatigue and other symptoms.

So, great news if this is you, as none of my Asian-inspired recipes like this crispy shredded chicken contain MSG either. This spice mix is also free from nuts, dairy, gluten & egg too!

Jump to:
  • 🤔 What is Salt & Pepper Seasoning?
  • 🥘 What You'll Need To Make It
  • ✏️ How To Make Chinese Salt & Pepper Seasoning
  • 🥡 How To Store
  • ⚡ Variations
  • 💬 Recipe FAQs
  • ⚡ Other Asian Recipes You Will Love
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

🤔 What is Salt & Pepper Seasoning?

You may think salt and pepper seasoning is just sea salt and black pepper, right? This spice mix is so much more than that!

True, it does contain salt and pepper, but this homemade salt & pepper mixture also consists of a blend of other spices, like Chinese 5 spice, garlic powder & ginger, which when they all come together create the most amazing flavour.

Salt & pepper seasoning is a Chinese takeaway favourite across the UK and most famously is used to create “salt & pepper chips” (which if you haven’t tried, you need to!) 

🥘 What You'll Need To Make It

After lots of testing, I have found the following mix of ingredients makes THE BEST (bold I know!) tasting salt & pepper seasoning.

  • Sea salt
  • Black pepper 
  • Chilli flakes
  •  Chinese 5 spice
  • Garlic powder
  • Ground ginger
  • Caster sugar

✏️ How To Make Chinese Salt & Pepper Seasoning

This has to be the easiest recipe ever, you simply measure out the ingredients, mix them together in a bowl and you are done!

a bowl of fries garnished with chilli, red and green pepper, with a chinese crispy chilli dish in the background.

🥡 How To Store

Store your salt & pepper seasoning in sealed spice jars. You can either wash out an old spice jar and once it is fully dry, fill it with your seasoning mix or treat yourself to these fancy spice jars.

Just be sure that whatever container you use is airtight. 

If you are making a huge batch (this is the best way - then it will always be there when you need it) you can use an airtight Tupperware container.

Your spice mix will keep for up to a year as long as it's in a sealed container. Just give it a shake before each use to make sure all the flavours stay evenly mixed.

⚡ Variations

If you are a big fan of heat, add another teaspoon of chilli flakes!

💬 Recipe FAQs

What to use salt & pepper seasoning on?

You will find yourself cooking with this seasoning a lot! Check out my salt & pepper chips recipe, which is the most famous way to use this seasoning.

You can also coat chicken, fish, tofu or meat with this delicious spice mix. It's also great tossed through some roasted vegetables before cooking.

Use it instead of the Chinese 5 spice in this slow cooker pork belly slices recipe.

Why not make some salt & pepper chicken wings! Just coat the wings in the seasoning, bake in the oven at 180˚C for 30 minutes and serve alongside this "no egg" special fried rice.

What is Chinese 5 spice made up of?

Authentic Chinese 5 spice consists of star anise, cloves, cinnamon and fennel seeds. I know that’s only 4! The last ingredient is a bit tricky as it is up for debate whether you use black peppercorns or Sichuan peppercorns to be truly authentic, but if you use either of these you will still acquire that aromatic flavour.

Do I need to use sea salt, or can I use table salt?

Sea salt gives a nice texture and flavour, but if you don’t have any, regular table salt works just fine too.

⚡ Other Asian Recipes You Will Love

  • fried rice in a white bowl
    Simple Fried Rice Without Eggs
  • salt and pepper chicken wings garnished with chilli and spring onion on a white serving plate
    Baked Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings (Chinese Takeaway Style)
  • Chinese salt & pepper chips in a white bowl, garnished with red chilli.
    Chinese Salt & Pepper Chips 
  • a plate of crispy chicken pieces garnished with spring onion & chilli, with a knife and fork next to the plate and a pot of sweet chilli sauce/
    Crispy Shredded Chicken With Chilli

If you loved this recipe, please leave me a 5🌟 rating or comment below. I really do appreciate it. 😊

📖 Recipe

a white bowl containing salt and pepper spice seasoning, with a small wooden teaspoon in it.

Chinese Salt and Pepper Seasoning Recipe

This Chinese Salt & Pepper Seasoning can be used to re-create your favourite Chinese restaurant & takeaway dishes or is also delicious sprinkled over meat, fish or tofu!
4.67 from 6 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 5 teaspoons
Calories: 9kcal
Author: Lauren Woodger

Equipment

  • Spice jar for storage

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper crushed
  • 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
  • ½ teaspoon Chinese 5 spice
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon caster sugar
Metric - Us Customary

Instructions

  • Measure all the ingredients.
  • Add to a bowl and mix well.
  • Use immediately or store in an airtight container.

Notes

Use this seasoning to make my salt & pepper chips!
Store your salt & pepper seasoning in sealed spice jars. You can either wash out an old spice jar and once it is fully dry, fill it with your seasoning mix or use the spice jars listed in the equipment above. Just be sure that whatever container you use is airtight. 
If you are making a huge batch (this is the best way - then it will always be there when you need it) you can use an airtight Tupperware container.
Your spice mix will keep for up to a year as long as it's in a sealed container.

Nutrition

Calories: 9kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.05g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 479mg | Potassium: 24mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 124IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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About Lauren Woodger

I’m Lauren, the creator of The Scatty Mum. As a mum to two kids with a history of food allergies and intolerances, I know how tough it can be to cook meals that are both safe and delicious.

That’s why I share easy, allergy-friendly recipes to help families enjoy stress-free mealtimes.

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Lady sitting on a kitchen side with a coffee cup in her hand.

Hey, I'm Lauren!

I’m Lauren, the creator of The Scatty Mum.

As a mum to two kids with a history of food allergies, I know how challenging mealtimes can be when you’re trying to please everyone.

That’s why I share easy, family-friendly recipes and meal planning tips to help busy families enjoy tasty, stress-free dinners that work for all dietary needs.

MORE ABOUT ME

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