Seasoned flour is flour that has been combined with a variety of different spices and seasonings such as salt, pepper, parsley, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and just about any other sort of savory spice that serves as a delicious accompaniment to a dish. This is usually done when preparing flour for a coating for food that will be fried, such as fried chicken, calamari, fried zucchini, and meat cutlets. This flour can be easily made in home and commercial kitchens, though some types are also available for purchase at markets and specialty stores.
Most seasoned flour is made for use in dredging before frying, but it can also be added to sauces to thicken them while introducing greater flavor. Many recipes for fried dishes, such as calamari, fried chicken, or scaloppini, will include how the flour should be seasoned for the dish. For some recipes, the seasonings can be quite elaborate and may be considered the “secret ingredient” of the dish. Seasoning flour without a recipe is quite easy, however, and can quickly add deeper and more complex flavors to an otherwise simple dish.
Any sort of flour can be used, though white flour is most common, and many people prefer unbleached flour over bleached for a cleaner taste and texture. Wheat flour can also be used, and it may be preferable for frying since it can produce a richer color and deeper flavors than standard white flour. Whatever type is chosen, enough of it should be poured out onto a large plate to fulfill the needs of the dish being made.
Once the flour is on the plate, it is quite simple to then just add whatever sorts of seasonings would pair well with the dish being made. For something like scaloppini, for example, some salt and pepper would both complement the flavor, and seasonings that match what is being used in the sauce would also be a nice addition. This could include some finely chopped oregano, bay leaves, and perhaps even some garlic or onion powder.
Fried chicken and calamari can benefit from some even stronger flour seasoning. Paprika is a quite common addition, and usually accompanies salt and pepper, with white pepper being commonly used with white flour for a more uniform visual appeal. Once the seasonings are added, the flour can then be easily mixed using either fingers or a fork. Commercially produced and sold seasoned flour is available from a number of different makers and retailers, and it will typically indicate the types of seasonings used in the flour.
