Easy Israeli Grill Spice and BBQ Seasoning is a simple, unique, 5-ingredient spice blend that will add amazing savory flavor to your chicken, meat, fish, or vegetables.
Israeli Grill Spice and BBQ Seasoning is a very popular seasoning in Israeli food culture (it’s called Chicken Grill or grill ofe) because it was initially used for chicken (there is a different spice for each type of food: chicken, meat, fish, meatballs, etc.).
However, this spice is good on all of them, and you can even use it as a seasoning on your roasted vegetables.
This savory seasoning rub mixes with the natural juices of whatever food you are cooking in the oven to create tender and delicious dishes every time!
Make this recipe ahead and use as needed!
It stores well in your cupboard and even better in your fridge or freezer.
Want to make a quick dinner? Take your chicken parts, meat, or fish and coat them with cooking spray or a little oil, and then generously sprinkle or rub it on. Then bake, grill, roast, or broil as you normally would.
Voila!
Try it and it will quickly become a favorite seasoning.
You can make a jar of it in advance and have it on hand for whenever you want for a quick and delicious meal!
This blend can be made in a matter of minutes and can be stored for quite a while (I have kept it in my cupboard for over a year!). And it stores even better in the freezer or refrigerator!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Easy Israeli Grill Spice & BBQ Seasoning
1. What makes this blend unusual?
Israeli-style grill seasoning relies heavily on a base of high-quality paprika to provide a rich, vibrant color and a sweet-smoky foundation. By adding garlic and onion powder, you create a versatile “all-purpose” savory profile that is the hallmark of many Middle Eastern dry rubs used for meats and roasted vegetables.
2. How should I store this seasoning to keep it fresh?
Spices degrade when exposed to heat, light, and moisture. Store this blend in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dark pantry—never directly over the stove.
Keeping it away from steam and heat sources ensures the volatile oils in the paprika and garlic powder remain potent for up to 6–12 months. Keeping it in the fridge or freezer helps it last even longer.
3. What can I use this spice mix for?
This seasoning is excellent on meat or chicken, fish, roasted vegetables, or potatoes. It also makes a terrific seasoning to mix in with ground meat for burgers, with breading, or with anything else that’s typically bland or neutral that one could mix spices or seasoning in for added flavor.
5. How is making this blend at home different than buying it packaged in the store?
Homemade spice blends allow you to control the quality and freshness of the ingredients. Most store-bought mixes contain anti-caking agents, excess salt, or preservatives. By making it yourself, you ensure the spice intensity is exactly to your liking and free of any unwanted additives.
6. Are there nutritional benefits to the spices in this mixture?
Yes there are.
Paprika (Sweet & Hot):
Contain antioxidants, which are essential for eye health. It is also a good source of vitamin A, which supports immune function and skin health. Hot paprika contains capsaicin, a compound known for its anti-inflammatory and metabolism-boosting properties.
Garlic Powder:
Contains sulfur compounds like allicin, which are linked to improved heart health, including lower blood pressure and reduced cholesterol levels. It also provides immune-system support.
Onion Powder:
Contains quercetin, an antioxidant with strong anti-inflammatory effects. It provides minerals like potassium and magnesium, which support bone health and proper muscle function.
Dried Parsley:
Parsley contains vitamin K, which is critical for bone health and proper blood clotting, as well as vitamin C for immune support.
A little about Israeli cuisine
Some people complain about cultural appropriation in cuisine when food from one country is attributed to another country.
However, national cuisine in itself is often a mingling of food from a variety of cultures, often due to a change of ruling countries and a shifting of borders.
Turkish cuisine, for example, goes back to the Ottoman Empire and was a combination of several cultures under Ottoman rule.
When people move from country to country, they will take their cultures with them, and their descendants may adapt their traditional cuisine with that of their new home.
When one lives in a melting pot, such as the US or Israel, it is just unrealistic to expect that food from a particular culture won’t mingle with that of other cultures.
That being said, “Israeli cuisine” is basically Middle Eastern (as opposed to Eastern European food) that was brought to Israel by Jews when they fled or were expelled from Muslim countries and moved to Israel mostly after the declaration of the State of Israel (collectively known as Mizrahi Jews).
Recipes were passed from generation to generation, and although decades have passed, the foods are still known by the culture they came from, and everyone seems to have their own way of making them.
That said, there are many variations of pretty much any “Israeli” recipe because of background, custom, or even just taste. When choosing a recipe, one has to know what actually constitutes a main ingredient—what makes the dish what it is—and what is left up to individual taste.
What does it mean when a recipe says that an ingredient is “optional”?
If an ingredient is “optional,” it means that you can add it in or not based on your own preference. An optional ingredient can be flavor-related (i.e., salty, sweet, spicy, etc.), appearance-related (garnish), or even something like nuts or chocolate chips in baking.
What does “savory” mean?
“Savory” refers to foods that are not sweet, such as foods that taste salty, spicy, or herbal.
Recommended seasonings and spices to keep in your pantry
- salt (my recipes use regular table salt)
- ground black or white pepper
- granulated garlic or garlic powder (I prefer granulated)
- onion powder
- sweet paprika and/or sweet pepper flakes (paprika is ground dried red pepper, pepper flakes are crushed dried red pepper)
- hot paprika, hot pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper (moderately spicy dried ground chili pepper) for those occasional spicy dishes
- ground turmeric
- ground cumin
- ground cinnamon
- ground ginger
- ground nutmeg
- ground cloves (for pumpkin flavors)
- sugar (granulated)
- brown sugar
- chicken consommé powder / beef bouillon powder (regular or vegetarian)
- onion soup mix
- onion flakes (substitute for fresh onion—3 tablespoons for 1 medium onion).
- various herbs
- additional spices to adapt taste to preference
Weather can have an effect on some of the spices and on the chicken consommé powder, so I keep as many of the seasonings in the refrigerator or freezer as I can, and I keep everything tightly closed in containers (you will be surprised to know just how determined moths are at getting into sealed bags and how hot red pepper powder can attract little black bugs—YUCK!).
Therefore, store your items properly.
What is needed for this recipe?
I hardly ever meal plan, so I like to keep a cupboard full of seasonings, spices, veggies, and canned goods in my kitchen to use whenever the mood strikes.
But these are all you need to have on hand to make this recipe even last minute!
sweet paprika
hot paprika
onion powder
garlic powder
salt
dried parsley (optional)
Want to try another Israeli seasoning mix?
Try Homemade Shawarma Seasoning Spice Mix for the delicious flavor of the popular Middle Eastern street food!
Easy Israeli Grill Spice and BBQ Seasoning Recipe
Delicious Israeli grill savory seasoning blend for flavorful chicken, meat, and fish.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon hot paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 tsp dried parsley (optional)
Instructions
Pour all ingredients in a bowl and combine thoroughly.
Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 10Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 267mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g