Old Bay Seasoning is a versatile, must have spice in every kitchen, and you’ll never be caught without it if you keep this recipe handy.
Old Bay is a classic, must-have seasoning in almost every pantry and kitchen, but if you can’t find it locally, or realize you’ve run out just when you need some for a recipe, don’t worry. This Homemade Old Bay Seasoning recipe will save the day.
Quick history lesson: Old Bay Seasoning is named after a passenger ship called the Old Bay Line that saled the waters of the Chesapeake Bay in the early 1900s.
Although it’s popular around the world, it has always been regionally popular in the Mid-Atlantic States, the Southern States, parts of New England and the Gulf Coast.
It’s most often used in seafood dishes, as well as seafood accompaniments like tartar and cocktail sauce. We use it most often to season our salmon before we roast or grill it.
But don’t just use it for seafood. It’s one of the most versatile spices in my kitchen and is great on vegetables–especially potatoes and corn on the cob–popcorn, deviled eggs and avocado toast.
You will probably need a spice grinder or mortar and pestle to crush the bay leaves for this recipe. Unless you are lucky to find ground bay leaves at your local supermarket.
You can also put your bay leaves in a zip top bag and crush them with a rolling pin. They won’t be as fine as if you use a grinder or mortar and pestle, but it won’t affect the flavor of the seasoning mix at all.
If you use this seasoning often, go ahead and double the recipe. It will keep in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to a year.
And you probably have all the ingredients to make this popular seasoning blend in your pantry right now.
This Homemade Old Bay Seasoning is definitely something you’ll want to keep on hand at all times. I hope you find as many ways to use it as we have!
Be sure to save this Homemade Old Bay Seasoning recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Homemade Old Bay Seasoning
- Spices: Celery salt, hot paprika, smoked paprika, mustard powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper, bay leaves, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, onions powder, garlic powder
Homemade Old Bay Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2-3 dried bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon celery salt
- 1 tablespoon hot paprika
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Equipment
- Mortar and Pestle
Instructions
- Finely crush or grind the bay leaves using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
- In a small bowl, combined the ground bay leaves and the remaining spices. Mix well.
- Cover and store in an airtight container for up to one year.
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Nutrition
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Who Dished It Up First: Adapted from The Kitchn