Creole spice and Old Bay are two popular spice blends used in Southern and Cajun cuisine. While they share some similarities, there are also key differences between the twoseasonings.
What is Creole Spice?
Creole spice refers to a blend of herbs and spices commonly used in Creole cooking, which originated in Louisiana. It typically contains a mix of garlic, onion, celery, peppers, thyme, basil, bay leaf, oregano, and black pepper. Some versions may also include spices like cayenne pepper, paprika, and dried herbs.
The exact blend can vary, but Creole spice is known for its robust flavor profile that brings together the diverse influences of French, Spanish, Italian, German, Caribbean, and African cuisines. It offers a warm, slightly spicy kick that enhances seafood, meat, rice, beans, and vegetable dishes.
What is Old Bay Seasoning?
Old Bay Seasoning was created in Baltimore, Maryland in the 1940s, and it is widely associated with Chesapeake Bay-style seafood. The traditional blend contains celery salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, paprika, mace, cloves, allspice, ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon.
This combination of spices offers a unique flavor profile with savory, zesty, and slightly sweet notes. Old Bay has a distinctive yellow-orange color from the paprika. It is commonly used to season crabs, shrimp, fish, chicken, fries, and even popcorn.
Similarities Between Creole Spice and Old Bay
While Creole spice and Old Bay have their own distinctive blends, there are some notable similarities between the two:
- They both contain garlic, black pepper, onion, oregano, and thyme
- They both offer a robust, warm flavor profile
- They are versatile seasonings used for seafood, poultry, vegetables, etc.
- They both include paprika, which lends a reddish-orange color
- Neither one is spicy hot, just slightly warm from peppers
So in terms of the main herbs and spices used, Creole spice and Old Bay share many ingredients in common. However, the exact proportions and additional spices vary between the blends.
Differences Between Creole Spice and Old Bay
While Old Bay and Creole spice share some seasonings, there are distinct differences between these two blends:
| Creole Spice | Old Bay |
|---|---|
| Originated in Louisiana | Originated in Maryland |
| Influence from French, Spanish, Italian cuisines | Influenced by Chesapeake Bay cooking |
| Robust, complex flavor | Zesty, savory-sweet flavor |
| Commonly contains cayenne pepper | Contains red pepper flakes, not cayenne |
| Does not contain celery salt | Contains distinctive celery salt |
| No cloves, mace, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon | Contains cloves, mace, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon |
As you can see, while Creole spice and Old Bay share some base seasonings, they have distinct flavor profiles based on their unique additional spices. Creole spice tends to be robust and complex, while Old Bay offers more of a savory-sweet zest.
Substituting Creole Spice and Old Bay
Because Creole spice and Old Bay both function as “one-stop” multipurpose seasoning blends, they are sometimes used interchangeably in recipes. However, the differences in their flavor profiles mean the end result may not taste exactly the same.
Here are some tips if you need to substitute between Creole spice and Old Bay:
- Use less of the substitute – Start with only half the amount called for in the recipe and adjust to taste
- Add cayenne or red pepper flakes – Creole spice is spicier than Old Bay, so add a dash of cayenne or red pepper flakes if you substitute Old Bay
- Use celery salt – Add a pinch of celery salt if substituting Creole spice for Old Bay to approximate the flavor
- Add warm spices – For a missing kick of cinnamon, ginger, or cloves, add a dash of the ground spice
- Adjust salt – The saltiness may need adjusting since Creole spice rarely contains celery salt
With a bit of tweaking, you can approximate the missing notes of flavor when substituting Creole spice and Old Bay. But for the true distinctive taste, it’s best to use the specified blend.
Creole Spice Recipe
To make your own Creole spice blend at home, here is a tasty recipe to try:
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Paprika | 2 Tbsp |
| Garlic powder | 1 Tbsp |
| Onion powder | 1 Tbsp |
| Dried oregano | 1 Tbsp |
| Black pepper | 1 Tbsp |
| Cayenne pepper | 1 tsp |
| Dried thyme | 1 tsp |
| Salt | 1 tsp |
| Dried basil | 1 tsp |
| Bay leaf, crushed | 1/2 tsp |
Combine all the ingredients and mix well. Store in an airtight container. Use to season seafood, poultry, vegetables, rice dishes, and more for a taste of New Orleans!
Old Bay Seasoning Recipe
To recreate the zesty Chesapeake flavor of Old Bay at home, try this recipe:
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ground bay leaves | 2 Tbsp |
| Dry mustard | 2 Tbsp |
| Ground celery seed | 1 Tbsp |
| Paprika | 2 Tbsp |
| Ground ginger | 1 tsp |
| Cardamom | 1 tsp |
| Celery salt | 1 Tbsp |
| Crushed red pepper flakes | 1 tsp |
| Ground black pepper | 1 Tbsp |
| Ground mace | 1/2 tsp |
| Ground cloves | 1/2 tsp |
| Salt | 1 Tbsp |
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight container. Use to season crab cakes, fried fish, clams, shrimp, chicken wings, french fries, and more for that quintessential Old Bay flavor.
Where to Buy Creole Spice and Old Bay
Although it’s easy enough to make your own Creole and Old Bay seasoning blends at home, there are times when it’s convenient to buy the pre-made versions:
Where to Buy Creole Spice
- Grocery spice aisles – Sold as pre-mixed Creole seasoning
- Online retailers – Such as Amazon, specialty spice shops
- New Orleans specialty shops – Purchase authentic local blends
Where to Buy Old Bay
- Grocery spice aisles – Look near the seafood section
- Online retailers – Sold through Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc.
- Seafood markets – Especially crab shacks and oyster houses
- Direct from manufacturer – McClary’s is the official producer
Old Bay can also be found in some seasoning salt blends, snack mixes, and flavored snack foods, especially in the Chesapeake Bay area.
Conclusion
In summary, while Creole spice and Old Bay share some similarities in terms of the herbs and spices used, they are distinct seasoned blends with their own regional histories and flavor profiles. Creole spice offers a more robust, complex flavor rooted in Creole cooking, while Old Bay has a unique savory-sweet taste known in Chesapeake cuisine.
The two are not interchangeable, but can be substituted by adjusting for differences in spiciness, saltiness, and other seasonings. To get the true distinctive flavor of these blends, it’s best to use Creole spice for Creole dishes and Old Bay for Chesapeake recipes. But home cooks can also experiment with making their own versions using the base ingredients and customizing to their desired taste.