Old Bay Seasoning is the brand name of a blend of herbs and spices produced in Maryland by McCormick & Co. It is often used in crab recipes along the Atlantic coast. There is a lingering connection, bound and blended by spice, between my two Souths, and it is apparent in Old Bay Seasoning. It is kind of like a long-lost cousin of my beloved garam masala; the two blends share so many of the same ingredients. You can make a homemade version of Old Bay by following this recipe.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons bay leaf, crumbled
2 tablespoons celery salt
1 tablespoon dry mustard powder
2 teaspoons finely ground black peppercorns
2 teaspoons ginger powder
2 teaspoons Kashmiri chili powder
1 teaspoon finely ground white pepper
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon clove powder
1 teaspoon allspice powder
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon mace powder
½ teaspoon green cardamom powder
¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
Preparation
Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container. This seasoning blend will keep indefinitely.
Reprinted with permission from My Two Souths: Blending the Flavors of India into a Southern Kitchen © 2016 by Asha Gomez with Martha Hall Foose, Running Press.
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