Inspired by the Goron spice from Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, this flavourful yet sweet spice mix makes a great seasoning for just about any dish!
I’m so excited about this recipe, since so many other recipes in Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom depend on it as an essential ingredient: Goron spice!
In Hyrule, Goron spice is described as a coveted spice mix that was passed down through generations upon generations of Goron families and their descendants. It consists of a spicier profile upfront, with underlying hints of sweetness.
“Goron spice in Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom is a mix of spicy and sweet. This spice mix can be bought in Goron City or from the Tabantha Bridge Stable.”
By no means does the spice mix in this post have the depth and history implied by a real generations-old spice mix – that just wouldn’t be possible! If you’re looking for authentic cultural spice mixes, this post isn’t it – and whatever a true Goron spice mix could taste like, sadly we won’t ever know.
My main inspiration for this video game seasoning might surprise you, but it’s actually my popcorn popper! It’s one of those expandable silicone things that goes in the microwave, and it came with a booklet of rather unhinged seasoning combinations. For example: pickle juice with lime zest and powdered anchovies – like it could be good…? but …do I want it on popcorn?? In any case, it got me thinking about the various spices, herbs and seasonings that I have and use already, and could a combination of them apply widely to meat, tofu, a salad dressing, or even popcorn.
Also are you an organized spice drawer person or a chaotic spice drawer person? Mine’s chaotic alright. It’s a big drawer that rolls out and the herbs and seasonings and spices are all kind of thrown in there in packets tied with elastic bands or repurposed jars of different sizes, and it’s all stacked haphazardly like a badly built condominium tower, interspersed with garlic mincers, mini oven-safe pot grippers, food colourings, little bags of sprinkles and old chocolate wafers. Anyways, I’ll stop – this is trauma you never asked for.
A few things I knew should apply to a Goron Spice-inspired seasoning going into this:
- It must be kind of a warm reddish orange brown colour.
- It must contain rocks, in some manner.
- It must be spicy and sweet.
The Gorons of Death Mountain are all about rocks – mining, cobble crushers, rock roasts – they love rocks! So it only makes sense a Goron spice mix would include rocks. Luckily there is one rock humans eat: halite (rock salt).
I mean, we could go out on a limb and admit you can eat gold flakes as a garnish on fancier foods, and you could cook in cast iron or with an iron fish to add iron content to your food, but both of those are not easy to incorporate into a spice mix, especially in such small amounts as to be safe, and well, what would be the point in that?
Gold and iron are also not mined in Breath of the Wild, in any region. Pink rock salt, flint, amber, opals, topaz, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds are the only mineable minerals in Breath of the Wild. Rock salt is the only one of those we can safely eat (and even then, in very small quantities!).
A detail I just love about Goron spice is the etymology put into its name. The word “Goron” could potentially have two different origins, actually. In Japanese “Goro goro” ( ゴロゴロ or ごろごろ) is a form of onomatopoeia for a rumbling.
In fact, goro goro can function in many ways, as a noun, verb, or adverb. In the context of Zelda Breath of the Wild, goron / goro goro could refer to the rumbling of a boulder or the rolling of a rock. However, the term could be interpreted in different contexts as a growl or thunder. For example, the growling of your stomach, thunder in the sky, or even the purring or growling of a cat.
“Goro” could also refer to the word “mountain/hill” through a form of Proto-Balto-Slavic etymology centred around the word “gara” and its variations: gora, ropa, rapa, hora, hara, and hura. There are so many different forms and variations that this entire line of etymology around “gara” is something of a hypothesis.
Keep in mind that most of the variations are used within the context of a larger word, but it’s still pretty interesting food for thought.
So, here’s my personal recipe for mountain rock spice, inspired by the Goron spice of Zelda Breath of the Wild. I’ve provided two different measurements below: one is for a single family meal, while the other will fill a four ounce spice jar.
I encourage you to try and create your own home versions of this seasoning too; you might discover your own favourite mix. Store your rock spice in a cool, dark, dry place for up to six months. Enjoy!
Mountain Rock Spice
This delicious spice mix is ready in mere moments. Store it for up to six months in a cool, dry, dark place. Don’t be afraid to use it liberally, or adjust the individual content ratios to your taste.
Ingredients
2-4 Servings (1/4 cup spice, or enough for one family meal)
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
½ tbsp brown sugar
½ tbsp paprika
½ tbsp tomato powder
1 tsp curry powder
½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp Himalayan pink salt
¼ tsp ground pepper
¼ -½ tsp cayenne /chili powder
Optional: 1 tsp dried citrus zest
One Spice Jar’s Worth (3/4 cup or 6 oz)
3 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 ½ tbsp brown sugar
1 ½ tbsp paprika
1 ½ tbsp tomato powder
1 tbsp curry powder
1 ½ tsp ground cumin
1 ½ tsp garlic powder
1 ½ tsp onion powder
1 tsp Himalayan pink salt
1 tsp ground pepper
½ -1 ½ tsp cayenne /chili powder
Optional: 1 tbsp dried citrus zest
Tools
jar or dish
measuring spoons
Instructions
- Measure out all the ingredients together and mix thoroughly.
- Store in an airtight contain for up to six months.
Note: If you don’t have dried citrus zest or tomato powder, simply add fresh zest and tomato paste while cooking. You can also try some variations, like swapping the cumin for coriander, or adding dried herbs.
Spicy & Sweet – Tasty Enough To Eat!
So far I’ve tried this spice mix in a few different settings -on pork chops, tofu cubes, fried fish, over butternut squash and even on plain rice and some garlic bread. It really works with everything! The nutritional yeast and brown sugar add a lot to the fun Breath of the Wild atmosphere of this spice mix.
It’s also fun to try your own different variations – adding less cumin, incorporating more citrus, or using it in a recipe with other delicious flavours, like caramelized onion, chilli oil, or powdered mushroom seasoning.
Also if you can’t get your hands on tomato powder, don’t fret – just add a little tomato paste while you’re cooking.
Did you make this mountain rock spice? Did you make your own version of it with different spices? Let me know!
Simmering Starfruit 
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