Chesapeake Bay Seasoning Powder, A Summer Cook’s Best Friend
This tasty seasoning blend is delicious on everything from crabs to popcorn. It is the omnipresent spice blend where I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay and is perfect for lazy summer days at the shore.
Although we bounced around a bit when I was growing up, Maryland’s Eastern Shore will always be the place I call “home”. This region is blessed with abundant seafood from the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Historically, shellfish was so abundant that the driveways on our street were paved with loose oyster shells.
In Maryland, seafood — and just about everything else — is flavored with a unique seasoning blend. Old Bay Seasoning is the flavor of the Chesapeake Bay. So, it is the flavor I associate with bushels of steamed crabs, beer, and plenty of newspaper to sop up the mess. Thus, Old Bay is the taste of home.
The Recipe for Chesapeake Bay Seasoning
Naturally, as a good Marylander, I brought my Old Bay Seasoning with me to Johannesburg. However, when it was finished, I was stuck. What would I do with crabs and shrimp? How would I season fried chicken? I had to develop my own recipe!
As an avowed spice addict, I confess I relished the challenge. However, I was surprised by how difficult it was to come up with a comparable blend! After lots of experimentation, I developed the formula I share with you today. It may not be exactly the same as Old Bay, but the flavor is pretty darn close.
I hope your family enjoys this flavor on fried chicken, popcorn, crabs, shrimp and just about everything else — like we do at home in Maryland. Bon appétit!
Chesapeake Bay Seasoning Powder, A Summer Cook’s Best Friend
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon celery seed
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon green cardamom seeds
- 2 tablespoons sea salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ground bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon mustard powder
- 2 teaspoons ginger powder
- 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
- 2 teaspoon allspice powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Place celery seed, black peppercorns, cloves, cardamom and salt in a spice grinder and grind into a fine powder.
- Place the powder in an airtight container and add the ground bay leaves, mustard, ginger, paprika, allspice, cayenne and cinnamon. Stir to combine.
- This spice mixture can be stored for up to a month. Use it to season crabs, shrimp, crab cakes, chicken, chips, popcorn, or just about anything else.
Notes
If you do not own a spice grinder, this blend can easily be made in a mortar and pestle.
1 thought on “Chesapeake Bay Seasoning Powder, A Summer Cook’s Best Friend”