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How to Recreate a Lost Tex-Mex Wing Spice Blend

Asked Feb 12, 2025 by Mark Z.

I am trying to recreate a spice blend from a restaurant that closed several years ago.

The spice blend was used as a dry rub for wings and this was a beloved restaurant in the community for many years.

Unfortunately, the owner was diagnosed with cancer and was forced to sell / close.

Shortly after the closure of the restaurant, they did a fundraiser - selling their dry rub spice blend and I was able to purchase some of this.

I still have some of the blend on hand that I vacuum packed. Is there anyway to have this analyzed and recreated?

The original owner is no longer available and they have discontinued any sales of the blend well over a year ago.

Do you have any advice for how to recreate? I am really bad at trying to identify the individual spices.

Thanks

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COMMENTS

  • Mark Z.

    March 1, 2025

    Sorry for the delayed reply - I often receive a "server error" message when trying to login since the new year.

    I really appreciate your willingness to help.

    This was a "tex-mex" type of restaurant and the seasoning was called "Moppo Seasoning."

    It was definitely savory, while warm, with almost a hint of sweet, though definitely was not sweet. I think that tease of "sweet" was from warm spices such as cinnamon, though seemed more like a 5-spice powder, maybe a hint of clove. I am fairly confident there was no sugar in the blend. The majority of the base I am sure was cumin, coriander, onion, garlic, and salt. The spice blend was definitely a red/brown color.

    I not sure if I could describe it with any more detail, though I could certainly send in a small sample if that helps.

    Thank you so much.

    • Elizabeth MindreauMilk Street Staff

      March 3, 2025

      Hello Mark –

      I apologize for any inconvenience due to our website, an upgraded site is in the works.

      I did some searching and found a restaurant called Duke's on Seven in MN. Someone posted on Instagram that they have Moppo Wings on their menu! See the image below. Perhaps you could ask the chefs at Duke's if they sell or could share the rub recipe with you.

  • Mark Z.

    March 6, 2025

    Any advice for "how to ask” for them to share the recipe?

    • Elizabeth MindreauMilk Street Staff

      March 6, 2025

      Hi Mark,

      I would just have a conversation. Tell them your history with the previous restaurant and ask them if they would be willing to share the recipe so that you could make the seasoning for your home use.

  • Mark Z.

    April 8, 2025

    So the Saga continues.

    I sent an email asking if they could share the recipe or sell some to me and this was the reply:

    "We no longer make the wings so we do not have any seasoning to sell. We also no longer have the recipe as well, sorry.

    Cheers!!"

    Any advice on the next step to recreate?

    Thank you so much for your time and advice.

    • Elizabeth MindreauMilk Street Staff

      April 8, 2025

      Hi Mark –

      Well, that's too bad, but at least they responded. I would start looking through community cookbooks and posting on local, neighborhood digital bulletin boards asking if anyone knows the recipe or list of ingredients in the blend. Other than that, I think you should experiment with mixing the spices you think are part of the mix.

      Happy hunting and good luck!