Taste the World: Old Bay

Taste the World is an exploration of spices around the world.  Each month we will provide a small amount of a different spice or spice blend from a different part of the world.  Cook with the spice and join us for a Zoom discussion of what we each made.  Participants will share tips, recipes and opinions of how their sampling the spices went. 

In August we will be cooking with Old Bay.

Old Bay seasoning is a classic spice mix often used to flavor seafood dishes, including Maryland-style crab cakes. Whether you can't find it in your local market or prefer to mix up your own spice blends to keep them fresh-tasting, it's easy to make Old Bay from scratch. You won't be able to tell the difference between the real thing and this recipe, and it allows you to adjust the spice mix to your taste, salt intake, and more.

While the exact ingredients are not revealed, Old Bay reportedly has a mix of 18 spices. It has a complex savory flavor, with bay leaf, celery salt, mustard, and pepper at the forefront. Paprika and various other spices add depth and make this a well-rounded seasoning. (from SpruceEats)

While the name Old Bay is proprietary, it is also easy to make your own.  Click here for a recipe.

Here are some sites with recommendations for its use:

https://www.mccormick.com/old-bay/recipes

https://tasty.co/article/melissaharrison/ways-to-use-old-bay

https://insanelygoodrecipes.com/old-bay-recipes/

https://food52.com/recipes/search?page=1&q=old+bay

You will receive an email when your kit is ready to be picked up. Alternately, please email me when you register if you do not need a kit. 

You will receive an email with the Zoom link approximately an hour before the discussion starts.