Old Bay seasoning

[gearchow]

Having been born and raised for 7 years on the Chesapeake Bay, I have Old Bay in the blood. I had a personal hand in the decimation of the blue claw crab population in our immediate area. But these days, I can't handle all that salt. So I googled up this recipe and I wonder if you all think it's good to go or may need some tweaking. The ingredient list is far beyond my salt, pepper, garlic experience. Looks more like a recipe for curry.

From busycooks.about.com:

• 1 tablespoon ground dried bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons celery salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sweet or smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground celery seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon ground mace
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

My favorite steamed shrimp from Joe Pattis in Pensacola. West Coast seafood can't touch the Gulf Coast.



-jim

 

[Deltaboy]

I just buy Ole Bay at the Store. A box last me a couple of years.

 

[JoshuaNY]

If it were me I would skip the nutmeg, cloves and cardamom. Seems like it would be more Old Bay-ish.

And just a note to your recipe, Not sure if you cant have any salt or just little salt, but if it is the former celery salt is contains salt, you might want to skip it and just use the celery seed.

 

[gearchow]

If it were me I would skip the nutmeg, cloves and cardamom. Seems like it would be more Old Bay-ish.

And just a note to your recipe, Not sure if you cant have any salt or just little salt, but if it is the former celery salt is contains salt, you might want to skip it and just use the celery seed.

I'll give that a try! I figure if I buy a small tin of each one in pre-ground form, I will have more then enough to experiment.

And yes, it's the celery salt that's a main ingredient in Old Bay. More Old Bay, less salt is the goal. And I might be able to configure it so my youngest can handle the heat and still get a lot of that Old Bay flavor.



-jim

 

[YetiDave]

What kind of things do you use this stuff for? I've been curious about picking some up. It is a cooking ingredient or just a seasoning?

 

[maxman]

I first heard of Old Bay in a magazine.
It sounds good. I'm on a low salt diet and I find it kind of hard to find spices that don't have salt.
If you look, they are out there though.

That recipe looks good even if it isn't quite the same as the original Old Bay.

Too bad I'm not more of a seafood guy.

 

[Stevew443]

Old Bay is a great addition to many foods. I know the label says poultry and seafood, but it is excellent on pork chops. I use it in most of my soups and stews also. I go through a couple large cans of Old Bay a year.

 

[73mountaineer]

I first heard of Old Bay in a magazine.
It sounds good. I'm on a low salt diet and I find it kind of hard to find spices that don't have salt.
If you look, they are out there though.

That recipe looks good even if it isn't quite the same as the original Old Bay.

Too bad I'm not more of a seafood guy.

Old Bay is a great addition to many foods. I know the label says poultry and seafood, but it is excellent on pork chops. I use it in most of my soups and stews also. I go through a couple large cans of Old Bay a year.

French fries too!

 

[JoshuaNY]

I like to sprinkle some on hamburgers from time to time.

 

[Jim]

Works on a chicken PDG.

Jim, no need to buy white pepper as it's black pepper with the husk removed.

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground mace
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

These do not feel Old Bay to me but you never know.

 

[urr-lord]

There was a vendor on ebay that sold a no-salt version of ebay.IIRC they were in New York and sold in 16 and 32 oz sizes.Unfortunately my comp crashed and I no longer have them bookmarked.Good Luck!

 

[Deltaboy]

We use Old Bay on pork chops, chicken, Burgers, Brawts, in my rice dishs and any crockpot dish.

 

[gearchow]

There was a vendor on ebay that sold a no-salt version of ebay.IIRC they were in New York and sold in 16 and 32 oz sizes.Unfortunately my comp crashed and I no longer have them bookmarked.Good Luck!

Thanks, I googled that and I did find that one, but they have the garlic as the first ingredient. I'm thinking garlic should be kept separate, but if included, not the first ingredient.

-jim

 

[YetiDave]

So it's a post-cooking seasoning?

 

[joshua1970]

it's a must have for any blue crabs... be they hard shells, soft shells or crab cakes...


i also LOVE Old Bay wings. deepfry or bake the wings til done then toss in a large aluminum bowl with a few pinches of Old Bay seasoning. trust me! a little goes a long way though w the wings, start with a few pinches and add more if needed. Don't DIP em in the seasoning, toss!


a few o the local bars started serving em after a few freinds and I insisted. it's become a big hit round these parts - for good reason.

dang, now I'm hungry

 

[Acmemfg]

Old Bay is a staple in any Maryland pantry, Hon. It has myriad uses.
Of late Old Bay has surfaced as a seasoning on popcorn and commercially marketed potato chips.

Indeed it is the ONLY seasoning to be used for crabs at any resemblance of a Maryland crab feast. Old Bay and Natty Boh are what separate the ho hum crab feast from the real deal.

There is another crab seasoning I have seen in Baltimore but never tried, J.O. seasoning. Maybe it has an ingredient list that you would prefer. Can't say.

.....how 'bout those Orioles???

 

[Wingnut]

Two words: Utz Crabbies. MAN, they're good!

 

[sychodelix]

Nothin' like crawfish boiled up with Old Bay Seasoning. Goood stuff.

 

[Deltaboy]

Thanks, I googled that and I did find that one, but they have the garlic as the first ingredient. I'm thinking garlic should be kept separate, but if included, not the first ingredient.

-jim

No sir you put it on the meat or in the pot before you cook !
I also rub Baked Potatos with butter and then sprinkle Old Bay over them before I cook them.

 

[Go West Young Man]

French fries too!

Crab Fries from Chickies and Pete's may be mankind's greatest invention.