Place spice ingredients in a small spice mill or coffee grinder and blend to a uniform powder. The spices grind quickly, usually in under a minute. Once the powder is uniform, allow it to cool, and transfer the spice blend to a storage container with a lid.
Seed and Nut Pate
Place seeds and nuts in a quart jar and fill it with water. Soak overnight in the refrigerator.
Next day, rinse and drain well.
Put drained seeds and nuts in a Vitamix or equivalent machine with all the remaining ingredients except thyme leaves.
Start the Vitamix on low speed and grind briefly to begin moving the mixture. Turn Vitamix up to the highest speed and use the tamper to blend the pate until about two-thirds of the almond pate is smooth.
Stop the machine and stir down the pate. Repeat blending on high and stirring down until the almond pate is smooth and fluffy.
Serve
Transfer pate to a bowl and stir in freshly chopped thyme leaves. Reserve a few to decorate pate when serving.
If you want to slice pate, lightly grease the sides of a mold and line the bottom with parchment paper. Pack the almond pate in firmly and press out any air bubbles. Chill for three hours and remove from the mold by running a butter knife around the inside edge of the dish.
Notes
Equipment tipsThis recipe requires a tall Vitamix with a tamper or equivalent machine in order to make a fluffy, smooth, and spreadable pate. Be sure to use the high setting exclusively once Vitamix gets going so as not to tax the blender and burn out the motor.In case it's handy, here are two machines on par with Vitamix:Ninja Chef CT810Clean Blend 1800There are many more high-powered blenders, but these two are good examples because they both come with a tamper or have one that can be purchased separately.Ordinary blenders or food processors will grind the soaked almonds and seeds but will leave a grainier texture. This is fine if you want the delicious seasonings in the almond pate and don't mind the coarser consistency.