18 old bay recipes

Try these crispy oven-Fried Onion Rings. They are much healthier than deep fried rings, and still taste absolutely delicious. They are so easy to be addictive, but this time you don't have to feel guilty about it.

This is one of those recipes that is more of a guideline—I really encourage you to adapt the amounts and ingredients to your tastes. If you like it chunky, don’t puree it. If you like a thinner soup, add more chicken broth. If you don’t like heat, omit the cayenne.

Chili N'Awlins is a New Orleans-style beef and pork chili with green chiles, oregano, and a Cajun edge. Topped with corn chips, sharp cheddar, and shredded lettuce for a hearty crowd-feeder.

Four cheeses mixed with spinach is the cheese layers, baby portobello mushrooms, dried porcini mushrooms and tomatoes make this delicious ragu. The lasagna comes out cheesy, juicy and full of flavors.

Slow cooker beef stew with chuck roast, potatoes, carrots, and onion seasoned with Old Bay. Just dump everything in the crockpot and let it cook on high for six hours.

Pressure cooker Hoppin' John with brown basmati rice, wild rice, black-eyed peas, collard and mustard greens, and stewed tomatoes. A hearty Southern one-pot classic.

New Jersey clam chowder: a Jersey shore split between cream and tomato, with bacon, chowder clams, Old Bay, and an unusual cream of asparagus base. Garnished with asparagus spears.

Maryland crab soup loaded with sweet lump crab meat, Old Bay seasoning, potatoes, corn, green beans, and carrots in a beef and tomato broth. The classic Chesapeake Bay vegetable soup.

Apple-cheese soup blends tart Granny Smith apples, sharp aged cheddar, and a splash of port into a silky strained bowl finished with crisp bacon. A savory-sweet starter with real depth.

Salmon corn chowder with bacon, creamed corn, potato soup, and Old Bay seasoning. A thick, creamy chowder using canned salmon and pantry shortcuts for a fast weeknight bowl.

Cato's grape bread recreates an ancient Roman recipe with feta, cumin, anise, and grape juice baked over fragrant bay leaves. A 2,000-year-old loaf with rustic Mediterranean character.

Old-school salt brine fermented dill pickles with fresh cucumbers, dill stems, garlic, and bay. The crunchy deli-style pickle that ferments in a week on your counter, no vinegar needed.

Old-fashioned navy bean soup simmered low and slow with a meaty ham bone, onions, and bay leaf. Just 7 ingredients, feeds a crowd of 15, and freezes like a dream.

Chilled curried pumpkin soup purées spiced pumpkin with butter-sautéed onions, bay, and nutmeg, then thins with milk for a velvety bowl that works hot or cold. A versatile do-ahead soup.

French ratatouille of eggplant, zucchini, peppers, tomato, onion and garlic, stewed in olive oil with thyme and bay leaf. Each vegetable cooked separately first so nothing turns to mush. Serve hot or cold.

Seafood pasta salad with rotini, shrimp, bay scallops, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, and olives in an anchovy-Parmesan vinaigrette. Crowd-feeding cold salad for parties and picnics.