Old Bay Seasoning is reversed for the unique flavors it can add to your seafood dishes. There are a few substitutes to Old Bay Seasoning that could offer similar flavors and please your taste buds. Let us have a look at the best alternative for Old Bay.
How does Old Bay Seasoning taste?
Old Bay Seasoning is a proprietary blend of spices and herbs by McCormick. Though the full list of ingredients including the herbs and spices present in this bled is not revealed by McCormick, the taste suggests it includes celery salt, black pepper, red pepper, and paprika, giving it a spicy twist.
The taste of Old Bay Seasoning is often described as a flavorful combination of salty, smoky and peppery with hints of mace, mustard, and perhaps turmeric.
The taste could be recreated by adding the herbs and spices that add to its complex flavor as given below:
Todd’s Dirt
The spice mix of Todd’s Dirt could work as a great alternative to the Old Bay. Todd’s Dirt could ratchet up everything that the seasoning offers, in terms of taste, and flavor.
It includes chipotle powder, paprika, and cayenne powder. Todd’s Dirt is also spicier than Old Bay Seasoning. You can try Todd’s Dirt if you prefer spicy flavors.
Cajun seasoning
Cajun seasoning is often used as a substitute for Old Bay flavoring. It has pretty much the same taste as the latter, albeit a bit spicier. What makes Cajun seasoning desirable is the ingredients required for it are easily accessible.
Depending on your craving and spice resistance, you can try Cajun seasoning in place of Old Bay Seasoning to add spicier flavors to your dishes.
Seasoned salts
There are varieties of seasoned salts available in grocery stores that could mimic the flavor of Old Bay Seasoning. They are not necessarily comparable to the unique taste of Old Bay. Yet, they do deliver a complex blend of seasonings, which could recreate the Old Bay Seasoning experience.
Prepare Old Bay Seasoning at Home Recipe
You can make your own blend of Old Bay Seasoning to add a twist to your dishes by following a simple recipe given below:
- 1 tablespoon of paprika
- 1 tablespoon of celery salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground red pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon of dry mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
How to Prepare
Add these ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Store in an airtight container and use it as and when needed.
With a little experimentation, it is possible to create the flavors and taste of Old Bay Seasoning. The idea is to add the ingredients that are known to provide that specific taste like pepper and paprika. You can mix and match various other spices and herbs to prepare and modify the seasoning to meet your specific requirements.