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Before we jump right into the recipe for Montreal steak spice or Montreal steak seasoning, as some may refer to it, let’s know what this robust blend of spice mix is? Every foody out there who loves to serve their taste buds just the right way knows the essence of seasoning the food before savouring it!
Be it a freshly tossed pizza or a newly grilled barbeque! Everything tastes better when accompanied by a good seasoning mix. Imagine eating pizza without oregano or chilli flakes? Too blunt, right? Or, having French Fries without a small bowl of cheesy dip?
By Henry Zbyszynski (Flickr Copyright 2021)
Be it any dish, it is always fairer to add spices or seasoning to it so that the flavours can give their best shot!
What is the importance of spices?
Spices are well recognised for improving the taste and flavour of food. Spices enhance the flavour of food without adding calories, fat, sugar, or salt. A pinch of spice may transform ordinary foods into an enticing and delicious dinner.
Herbs and spices also contribute flavour to foods, which improves their complexity and compliments or contrasts with other flavours that are already present.
Spices derived from plants contain many qualities that might benefit human health. Many herbs include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral qualities beneficial to the body’s health.
So, what is this fuss about the Montreal steak spice? What is the nutritional information for this spice blend? Is there a perfect way to create homemade Montreal steak spice?
I will be answering all of these questions in this article.
Montreal steak seasoning is a spice blend known as Montreal steak spice, Canadian steak seasoning, or Canadian steak spice used to flavour steak and grilled foods. It is based on the dry-rub mix used to prepare Montreal smoked meat, which is derived from the Romanian pastramă (the forefather of pastrami), which was introduced to Montreal by Romanian Jewish immigrants.
The main ingredients in Montreal steak seasoning are garlic, coriander, black pepper, cayenne pepper flakes, dill seed, and salt.
The formula for the spice blend differs somewhat across restaurants and producers.
History of the Montreal Steak Seasoning
Montreal steak spice, also known as Canadian steak spice or Canadian steak seasoning, is an antique recipe. What is it that makes the Montreal steak spice stand out from others? Is it mandatory to add in these spices while making Montreal smoked meat?
Well, let me guide you through the history of these mouth-watering spices, which are considered a must while making steak or chicken!
Old Montreal is the place where it all began. As is evident by most other articles, McCormick, the founder of Montreal steak spice, designated the beauty of this robust blend of herbs to be entirely accidental.
However, the natural face behind the Montreal steak spices turned out to be Mr Morris Sherman, a cook at a famous restaurant in Montreal. While brewing some liver steaks, Sherman began adding some of them. As a result, customers began demanding the same mix of spice on their steak as well.
By the impulsive buy (Flickr Copyright 2021)
This spice blend started becoming famous across the town and the nation in no time. It was then that McCormick grasped the opportunity to make the most of this pepper and garlic mix! The recipe started gaining love across the other nations as well.
Schwartz’s method of flavouring steak quickly spread across North America, where many carnivores began sprinkling pastrami spices over their steaks. Without even realising it. And while such herbs were popularised at Schwartz’s, they did not originate in Old Montreal but rather in the Old World. Romania, to be precise. When sprinkled on a steak before or after grilling, Montreal steak spice tastes similar to another restaurant favourite: pastrami. The mix is zesty and sophisticated, and it is more than just a source of pride for the locals. According to Brownstein, it’s “essentially the standard by which all steaks should be seasoned, not just [in Canada], but across the continent.”
He isn’t wrong: spice businesses now offer variants of the combination in Canada and elsewhere. However, it is no longer confined to meat. Canadians now have steak spice potato chips with their other varied potato chips.
When Romanian Jews like Schwartz’s founder, Reuben Schwartz, emigrated to Canada and started his deli, they carried their native country’s spiced-meat custom of “pastramă” with them. Those “pastramă” spices, like other cultural treasures, were adapted to their new homeland without most people being aware of their origins.
And Montreal Steak Seasoning didn’t just arrive from Romania. Pastrami spices were initially employed across the Ottoman Empire to help preserve meat before refrigeration, with the added benefit of making it 1,000 times tastier. The pastrami was previously known as pastramă. And pastramă is derived from the centuries-old Ottoman dried meat dish basturma, which is frequently cooked with camel (which, in case you’re wondering, is not kosher).
Usually, the steak was served in much more decent French-style flavours. But, after the booming popularity of the Montreal steak spice, everyone seemed more of it.
It was strange that a recipe of dill seed, red pepper, salt, garlic, and ginger gained so much fame in such a short period.
Montreal steak spice: Nutrition information
Spicy foods are predominantly a bit acidic for your gut. Adding spices or seasoning with inappropriate saturated fats and other nutritional requirements might cause a problem.
Fortunately, you can be a bit relaxed for the Montreal steak seasoning! These spices will alleviate the chances of getting hyperacidity or other gut-related disorders.
By Amy G (Flickr Copyright 2021)
Nutritional Information:
- Gluten-free (A gluten-free seasoning is perfect for other uses like marinade preparation)
- Saturated fat 0g
- Calories 0g
- Carbohydrates 0g
- Trans fat 0g
- Cholesterol 0mg
- Sugar 0g
- Protein 0.1g
The above spice extractives depict the essential nutritional benefits of consuming these spices. Therefore, you can rest assured that you will be cooking a highly crucial recipe for your smoked meat, grilled meats, chicken, and steaks similarly.
How to make homemade Montreal steak spice?
Although many would prefer to order a marketed product, a more personalised experience would be to prepare this spice blend on your own. It’s known that spice blends don’t sound like an easy task, but it’s worth a try, don’t you think? You must be curious why I prefer homemade Montreal steak spice over the marketed ones? One strong reason for this is that I can manage my favourite flavours the way I opt to.
By WordRidden (Flickr Copyright 2021)
Managing the flavour profile comes easy when you are the cook. So how do we create this homemade Montreal steak spice mix? Follow the full steak seasoning recipe below to get the most satisfying Montreal steak seasoning!
Ingredients
- Granulated onion
- Granulated garlic (dehydrated garlic would be best)
- Granulated ginger
- Black pepper
- Dill seed
- Coriander seed
- Paprika (shouldn’t be smoked)/ Red pepper flakes/ Cyanne pepper
- Salt
- High oleic sunflower oil
Equipment
- Spice grinder
- Airtight container
- Small bowl
Homemade Montreal steak spice recipe
- In a spice grinder, add the coriander seeds and grind them finely. This step can be done with the traditional mortar and pestle as well.
- Next, grind the dill seeds as well. This process helps get those bolder grilling flavours that everyone loves to savour.
- Add 3 tbsp of black pepper and paprika (or red pepper) spices in a small bowl. Consider lowering this amount if you are not into excess spicy food.
- Then, add 2 tbsp of salt. You can adjust the taste of salt as per your requirement.
- Add 1 tbsp of granulated onion, ginger, and garlic each. If you don’t like the smell of onion, you can skip it. The same goes for garlic as well. However, adding a tiny bit of it would level your spice blend.
- Add 1 tbsp of ground coriander and dill seeds each.
- Lastly, add in some oil, and while stirring, constantly mix all the spices to get a perfect mix of gourmet spices.
- Store this Montreal steak spice/ Montreal steak seasoning in an airtight container for further use.
- While storing the Montreal steak spice, ensure accurate date information is recorded on the product label on your airtight container. The correct labelling will help you keep a check on the expiration date of the spices.
- If you wish to prolong the storage period of this spice blend, consider adding 1 tbsp of white vinegar to the spices. If maintained properly, that is, kept in an airtight container, the seasoning can last for more than a year.
The spices in this recipe are given in the exact amount to help you get that perfect flavour from Montreal delis. Subsequently, you can skip some of the other ingredients as per your need. But, to get that classic old Montreal flavour, it would be best to follow the recipe described above.
One must not forget that the relishing taste of this seasoning comes from the robust blend of onions, garlic, and other spices in appropriate proportions. Therefore, to get a flavorful steak, it would be best to add generous amounts of spices and dry rub them on the meat.
Check out the comparison between two of the famous Montreal steak seasoning brands!
Furthermore, try to get through equipment clean-up once you are done cooking your spice mix. You don’t want to get those spices on your hands and not on your face!
This Montreal steak seasoning is perfect for seasoning any piece of meat, right from chicken to smoked meat. Plus, you can use this seasoning with other dishes like marinades, pizza, and sandwiches.
One can manage additional layers of spice while cooking chicken and steaks to get rich flavours. Don’t forget to control the salt levels accordingly.
(NOTE: Recipe variations are pretty standard. The ingredient statement may differ from person to person according to their serving size and choice of flavour.)
Montreal steak spice uses:
The seasoning is used to flavour steak and grilled foods. It is inspired by the dry-rub mixture used to prepare Montreal smoked meat.
Montreal Steak Spice Marinade
The seasoning is used to flavour steak and grilled foods. It is inspired by the dry-rub mixture used to prepare Montreal smoked meat.
PREPARATION
Combine the oil, soy sauce, and Club House La Grille Montreal Steak Spice in a big self-closing plastic bag or glass dish. Add the steak. Marinate for at least 1 hour or 24 hours in the refrigerator for maximum flavour.
Preheat the grill or the broiler. Grill the steak until it is cooked to your preference. Remove the steak from the marinade; discard the marinade.
Montreal Steak Spice Clubhouse La Grille
Imitations wouldn’t even come similar to the original, the one and only. This is the spice that contributed to making steak legendary. This bold blend of pepper, garlic, onion and a selection of 12 gourmet spices and seasonings evokes the flavour of ancient Montréal. Club House La Grille spices make it simple to provide your clients with the larger, more robust grilling flavours they crave.
Ingredients
- SALT
- SPICE (INCLUDES MUSTARD, RED PEPPER)
- DEHYDRATED GARLIC AND ONION
- HIGH OLEIC SUNFLOWER OIL
- SPICE EXTRACTIVES
Montreal Steak Spice No salt recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tbsp ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon coriander
- 1 tablespoon dill 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a jar with an airtight cover, combine all of the ingredients.
- Keeping the quantity of sodium in our diet is critical for everyone, but especially for individuals with heart disease or hypertension because water follows salt in the body.
Some famous Monterey seasonings!
-
California Rancher Monterey Seafood Seasoning
A delicate herb combination with a tinge of citrus enlivens grilled, roasted, seared, or baked fish. Get rid of your Old Bay seasoning. Dill and thyme combine with a pinch of pepper to complement but not overpower high-quality fish. Before cooking, drizzle your fish with olive oil and sprinkle with Monterey Seafood Seasoning for a flavorful, delectable treat.
Suggestions for use:
Halibut roasted
Sole Petrale
Jumbo shrimp on skewers, grilled
Scallops pan-seared
2. Lawry’s roasted garlic & red bell pepper Monterey Style Seasoning
The tastes of slow-roasted garlic are combined with red bell pepper, sugar, and red pepper in Lawry’s Roasted Garlic and Red Bell Pepper Monterey Style Seasoning to offer the classic flavours of Monterey.
There is no MSG, artificial flavours, or colours derived from artificial sources.
Our 21 oz capacity is ideal for back-of-house use, allowing you to dispense the exact quantity of flavour each time.
Lawry’s has been devoted to offering taste solutions to assist cooks in keeping on top of menu changes and consumer preferences while adding outstanding flavour across the whole menu since 1938.
Chefs can add restaurant-proven taste and individuality to fajitas, meatballs, shrimp, and veggies by using Lawry’s Roasted Garlic and Red Bell Pepper Monterey Style Seasoning.
3. Monterey Bay peppercorn black 16 mesh
Medium coarseness with a strong aroma
It is used to flavour and garnish a wide range of dishes.
Last Updated on by Priyanshi Sharma