Schwartz Perfect Shake and Grill Mates - AD sent for review

disclosure: we were sent the items mentioned for the purposes of review

I’ve been a big fan of Schwartz and their dried herbs and spices for a long time, as my well used spice rack will testify. You may remember that I tested out their 2 in 1 seasoning mixes a while ago. So when I heard of a couple of new ranges I’d not used before, I jumped at the chance to try them Schwartz Perfect Shake and Grill Mates.

First up the Perfect Shakes…

Perfect Shake Herb & Spice Blends can be sprinkled onto food prior to cooking, used in sauces or marinades, or added last minute to a dish for maximum flavour impact

There are 26 varieties in the range and I’ve been sent the Fish, Piri Piri, Chargrilled Chicken, Thai 7 Spice and Reduced Salt Season-All herb and spice mixes.

I was cooking a mince dish the other night and decided to add the Reduced Salt Season-All Perfect Shake to the mince as I cooked it. Amongst other ingredients, it contains red and green bell peppers, cumin and celery seeds – so perfect to add to my tomato-based sauce. It really added to the flavour. I’d expect nothing less to be fair. I may well sprinkle this seasoning over my wedges the next time I make some too.

I was on a roll and as I’d got some chicken that I wanted to cook the next night, I had a look at the Grill Mates I’d received for a bit of inspiration.

There are 4 marinade mixes in the range; Smokey Texan, Mojito Lime, Cajun and Deep South Brown Sugar, of the 3 I’d received I decided to try the Cajun mix first. I love Cajun seasoned food and so does my 3 and half-year-old son, so thought this could be a winner.

The packet says you can marinate for 15 minutes or overnight – well I was organised so overnight would work out well. I added water and oil together along with the Cajun marinade mix, added the chicken, covered in cling film and stuck it in the oven overnight.

This evening, I took the chicken out of the fridge, popped in a pre-heated oven for 45 minutes and ….. lovely Cajun Chicken for dinner – big thumbs up from my harshest critic.