Old Bay Seasoning
Old Bay Seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices that is currently marketed in the United States by McCormick & Company, and produced in the Chesapeake Bay area where it was developed by German immigrant Gustav Brunn in the 1940s. The seasoning is very popular to this day. At that time, crabs were so plentiful that bars in Baltimore, Maryland, offered them free and seasonings like Old Bay were created to encourage patrons to purchase more beverages. Old Bay is just one of many crab seasonings created during that era, yet is one of a few that survived.
Old Bay Seasoning is named after the Old Bay Line, a passenger ship line that plied the waters of the Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore to Norfolk, Virginia, in the early 1900s. Gustav Brunn’s company became the Old Bay Company, producing crab seasonings in the unique yellow can container until the company was purchased by McCormick & Co around 1990. McCormick continues to offer Old Bay in the classic yellow can.
Old Bay is well known as a seafood seasoning. Less well-known is what goes into it. Besides salt, its principal flavors are celery seed and paprika. But there's a host of sweet spices to boot: cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, mace (mace!), among others. The blend receives some kick from black pepper and mustard seed and some serenity from bay leaf. Its flavor is remarkably balanced, opening the door to a range of culinary possibilities. That is, of course, if you ever decide to move past a lobster roll with a thin coat of mayo with some diced celery and Old Bay on a toasted bun. If you didn't, I wouldn't blame you: This spice blend pulls its weight with that one dish alone.
The Old Bay Seasoning ingredients list on the can is: celery salt, spices (including mustard, pepper, laurel leaves, cloves, pimento, ginger, mace, cardamom, cassia), paprika. I’ve also seen it stated on the Internet that this is a "unique blend of 18 herbs and spices."
Here are some recipes if you would like to try making your own. Several are made with whole spices, others are made from all pre-ground spices.
Old Bay Seasoning
Made from whole spices
1 tablespoon celery seed
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
6 whole bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon whole cardamom
1/2 teaspoon mustard seed
4 whole cloves
1 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika
1/4 teaspoon mace
In a spice grinder or small food processor, combine all of the ingredients. Grind well. Store in a small glass jar.
Old Bay Seasoning - Probably the closes recipe
from https://www.daringgourmet.com/
Made from whole spices
Old Bay Seasoning is a quintessential American spice blend that has had a popular following since it was developed over 80 years ago. It’s characterized by multiple layers of complex flavors that pair well with a large variety of dishes. Its broad flavor palette makes it a terrific all-purpose seasoning. We’ve created an Old Bay Seasoning copycat that we think you’ll agree is a total winner!
3/4 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon celery seed
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 teaspoon ground dry mustard
1 teaspoon ground ginger
5 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground mace
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/16 teaspoon ground cloves
Place all of the ingredients in a coffee or spice grinder or small blender and grind until it's a smooth powder.
Transfer the spice blend to an airtight jar and store in a dark, cool place.
For optimal flavor use within 3 months.
Makes about 1/4 cup.
Old Bay Seasoning
Made from ground spices
1 Tablespoon ground bay leaf
2-1/2 teaspoons celery salt
1-1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
1-1/2 teaspoons black pepper
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon red pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground mace -- optional
Combine all ingredients and store in air tight container.
Old Bay Seasoning
Made from ground spices
1 Tbsp. Celery Salt
1/4 tsp. Paprika
1/8 tsp. Black Pepper
1/8 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
Pinch Ground Dry Mustard
Pinch Mace
Pinch Cinnamon
Pinch Cardamom
Pinch Allspice
Pinch Ground Clove
Pinch Ginger
Old Bay Seasoning
Made from ground spices
1 Tablespoon celery salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon ground bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon mace
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Combine, mixing well. Store in a cool place in an airtight jar.
