Tämä resepti on saatavilla myös suomeksi — 
Save
The Irish Spice Bag has to be one of my favourite takeaway foods in Ireland. If you haven’t come across it, please check my Irish Spice Bag recipe. There, I go into more detail about what it is and how to make it at home. It’s easy enough and super tasty “fakeaway”.
Of course, a good Spice Bag also needs its signature spice mix. It’s an interesting medley of spices, with main flavour notes from Chinese five spice, salt, sugar and chilli flakes. The recipe is super easy: measure the spices and mix, then store in a cool, dry place, like any other spices. That’s literally it.
To use, sprinkle around one teaspoon of the spice mixture per serving over your chips, vegetables, or anything else you want to give a spicy kick.
Ingredients
Everything here is a standard spice in the press (cupboard). Chinese five spice is the backbone of the mix and should be easy to find in most supermarkets in the Asian or spice isle. MSG is optional but worth including if you have it. It adds some savoury depth that makes takeaway food taste like takeaway food. If you can't find it or prefer not to include it, the mix still works well without it.
Making the Spice Bag Spice Mix
I mean... there's genuinely not much to say here. Measure everything into a bowl, mix it together and Bob's your uncle. The only read tip is to make sure your spices are relatively fresh. Ground spices lose potency over time, so if that jar of ground ginger has been sitting in the back of your press since 2020, this is a good time to replace it.
Storing the Spice Bag Spice Mix
Transfer the mix to a small airtight container and keep it somewhere cool and dry. In Finland, we have a spice cabinet right over the stove which might not be the best idea because of rising heat and steam.
If you want to make a bigger batch to give away, it makes a great homemade gift. Just multiple the gift and divide it into jars.
Serving
The classic way to use this is the way takeaways do: toss it over crispy friend chicken and chips straight out of the fryer. But it's very versatile, far beyond the Spice Bag. Try around 1 teaspoon per serving sprinkled over chips, roasted vegetables, stir-fried chicken, or even popcorn. Ha, spice bag popcorn? Sure. You can also use it as a dry rub for chicken before grilling or roasting. A spice bag-inspired dinner. A step up from the takeaway version.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Spice Bag?
A spice bag is one of Ireland's most popular takeaway dishes. It's crispy chicken pieces, chips, sliced peppers, and chillies, all tossed together in a fragrant spice mix. It originated in Irish-Chinese takeaways and has become a nationwide favourite. Check out my Spice Bag recipe here.
What spices are in a spice bag?
The key spices are Chinese five spice, chilli flakes, chilli powder, ground ginger, ground coriander, and cinnamon. Salt, sugar, and a small amount of MSG round out the flavour for that authentic takeaway taste.
Is homemade spice bag seasoning better than shop bought?
Shop-bought mixes are handy, but making your own means you control the heat, salt, and freshness. Pre-made packets often sit on shelves for months, and ground spices lose flavour over time. A homemade batch takes under ten minutes, costs less once you have the basics in your press (cupboard), and you can adjust it to your taste: more chilli if you like it hot, less salt if you're watching your intake.
Can you make spice bag spice mix ahead of time?
Yes! That's the whole point of this recipe. Make a batch and store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. It keeps for up to 6 months, so you can have takeaway-style spice bag flavour on hand whenever you want it.
What do you use spice bag seasoning on?
The classic use is tossed over crispy chicken and chips, but it works brilliantly on roasted vegetables, stir-fries, popcorn, wedges, or even as a dry rub on chicken thighs before grilling.
Is spice bag seasoning the same as Chinese five spice?
No. Chinese five spice is one ingredient in the mix, but spice bag seasoning adds chilli heat, salt, sugar, and extra aromatics like ginger and coriander. Five spice alone won't give you the full spice bag flavour.
