Question for (USA) foodies... Spike seasoning

Ea · 09-21-2009, 03:56 PM

I came a across a tofu marinade that looks promising - but the recipe included something called "Spike seasoning".

It's apparently this: Gayelord Hauser brand

It looks a bit disturbing to be honest - makes me think that the main ingredient in Spike(TM) may be E621 - but is it? Is it more complex than a middle-of-the-road umami taste? There is already soy in the recipe...

Any suggestions of what I could substitute it with? Or perhaps just what are the main qualities of the taste of Spike - e.g. sweet, sour, sharp, strong, pungent, biting, cold, fresh, mellow, etc. - then I can figure out myself what to use.

The recipe is this:
- 1/2 cup soy sauce, tamari or Bragg's Liquid Aminos
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Spike seasoning
- 1 generous pinch saffron

dreams · 09-21-2009, 04:07 PM

I found the below link with more information...
I hope this helps..

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/AccentSpike.htm

Sweetpea · 09-21-2009, 04:15 PM

My sister-in-law generally takes a a few jars home when she's been to the States again. I should tell her to take some for me as well... It's a mixture of various spices and generally very nice.

DixieGal · 09-21-2009, 04:17 PM

Oooh. MSG. Hate it, makes my feet swell up like baked potatoes.

Ea · 09-21-2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreams

I found the below link with more information...
I hope this helps..

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/AccentSpike.htm

It does help. At least it seems that Spike is not MSG (not that I have a problem with MSG, but I like to know what I eat), but the variety of flavours that goes into Spike make me think the main experience is not that far from a umami taste. Hmm....

Wetdogeared · 09-21-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

It does help. At least it seems that Spike is not MSG (not that I have a problem with MSG, but I like to know what I eat), but the variety of flavours that goes into Spike make me think the main experience is not that far from a umami taste. Hmm....

A customer review on Spike at Amazon.com says the ingredient "high flavor yeast" is MSG.

I don't know of any connection to yeast and MSG.

Patricia · 09-21-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wetdogeared

Spike at Amazon.com says the ingredient "high flavor yeast" is MSG.

I don't know of any connection to yeast and MSG.

Well Marmite, Vegemite and other yeast extracts have a strong umami taste, in a beefy sort of way.
One of my Chinese cookery books suggests using liquid or powder stock essence instead of MSG. This works quite well. But I usually prefer a concentrated chicken or vegetable stock essence.

Ea · 09-21-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wetdogeared

A customer review on Spike at Amazon.com says the ingredient "high flavor yeast" is MSG.

I don't know of any connection to yeast and MSG.

As far as I understand MSG is naturally ocurring in a number of foods, one with a high content of MSG is nutritional yeast (not baking yeast, usually used as a B-vitamin supplement or just as a spice). Other examples are tomatoes, mushrooms, and cheeses.

Sounds like Spike is basically a powdered vegetable stock cube...

fugazied · 09-21-2009, 07:02 PM

I'm a vegetarian so a good tofu marinade is always useful, thanks for posting it!

As for what's in Spike, check http://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/AccentSpike.htm
A LOT of ingredients, but is essentially seasoned salt. I did an Aussie google search for it, but couldn't find a way to get it over there

Wetdogeared · 09-21-2009, 07:51 PM

I've come across some recipes that substitute "Mrs. Dash® Original Blend" for "Spike Seasoning Blend". I'm not sure if Mrs Dash is available in your location or not.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 09-21-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Oooh. MSG. Hate it, makes my feet swell up like baked potatoes.

I don't have that problem, but too much of the stuff gives me a migraine

Elfwreck · 09-21-2009, 08:06 PM

Spike has no MSG. "High flavor yeast" is nutritional or brewer's yeast. I don't think it's got MSG in it, although perhaps MSG is derived from a different kind of yeast. My husband uses both extensively, and he's allergic to MSG.

Spike is a savory seasoning, a blend of over 50 individual spices, so it's hard to match it--but shouldn't be too hard to substitute for it. Salt with flavor attached. For the recipe mentioned here, I'd probably mostly use salt, with some onion, garlic, and oregano. Could add other meat-flavoring herbs, if you like. I suspect the salt & onion are the most important parts.

My husband, who is the cook in the family, is currently sleeping; I nudged him to ask what to substitute for Spike. He suggested mailing a jar of it, and fell back asleep. While I'm not opposed to the idea of spreading the Spike-love beyond the US borders, I doubt that it would get there in time to be useful for making this particular batch of marinade.

Ea · 09-22-2009, 04:16 AM

Thanks for all the help everyone

For those interested, I found a bit more info on MSG in foods

The short of the long: http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html
More background info: http://www.truthinlabeling.org/faarp...k-2-FEb17.html
(Edit: I don't like the lack of references to the claims stated in, especially, the second page, and the language is not neutral).

Pesonally I don't have a problem with MSG as such, as it's naturally ocurring, but I'd rather just use the foods directly. I must admit that I believe that not many people can be decidedly allergic to it, or else there would a great number of foods they couldn't eat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

Spike has no MSG. "High flavor yeast" is nutritional or brewer's yeast. I don't think it's got MSG in it, although perhaps MSG is derived from a different kind of yeast. My husband uses both extensively, and he's allergic to MSG.

MSG is derived from fermented carbohydrates. Chemically it's a glutamic acid, and one of several other glutamic acids, which are found naturally in a number of foods, chemically the difference is minimal. Nutritional yeast and fermented soy products typically has high concentrations, but it's also a large component of the flavours that we like in e.g. bacon, tomatoes, cheese, seaweeds and mushrooms.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

Spike is a savory seasoning, a blend of over 50 individual spices, so it's hard to match it--but shouldn't be too hard to substitute for it. Salt with flavor attached. For the recipe mentioned here, I'd probably mostly use salt, with some onion, garlic, and oregano. Could add other meat-flavoring herbs, if you like. I suspect the salt & onion are the most important parts.

Since you mention 'meat-flavouring herbs' and 'salt with flavour attached', it sounds like the basic taste quality is "umami-like" generic "taste" or whatever I could call it - not something specific such as sharp, mild, strong, warm, fresh, eathy, dry, hot, etc.? I was mostly wondering if I was missing out on a specific flavour component, but if it's just 'background' stuff then it's no problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

My husband, who is the cook in the family, is currently sleeping; I nudged him to ask what to substitute for Spike. He suggested mailing a jar of it, and fell back asleep. While I'm not opposed to the idea of spreading the Spike-love beyond the US borders, I doubt that it would get there in time to be useful for making this particular batch of marinade.

*lol * no

and I generally try to stay away from that kind of ready-made stuff anyway.

Sweetpea · 09-22-2009, 04:58 AM

Maybe a stupid question, but what is MSG?

Ea · 09-22-2009, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Maybe a stupid question, but what is MSG?

MonoSodium Glutamate, or E621

09-21-2009, 03:56 PM	#1
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	Question for (USA) foodies... Spike seasoning I came a across a tofu marinade that looks promising - but the recipe included something called "Spike seasoning". It's apparently this: Gayelord Hauser brand It looks a bit disturbing to be honest - makes me think that the main ingredient in Spike(TM) may be E621 - but is it? Is it more complex than a middle-of-the-road umami taste? There is already soy in the recipe... Any suggestions of what I could substitute it with? Or perhaps just what are the main qualities of the taste of Spike - e.g. sweet, sour, sharp, strong, pungent, biting, cold, fresh, mellow, etc. - then I can figure out myself what to use. The recipe is this: - 1/2 cup soy sauce, tamari or Bragg's Liquid Aminos - 3 tablespoons lemon juice - 3 tablespoons molasses - 1 teaspoon cumin powder - 1 teaspoon coriander powder - 1 teaspoon pepper - 1 teaspoon cinnamon - 3 tablespoons sesame oil - 1 1/2 teaspoons Spike seasoning - 1 generous pinch saffron

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09-21-2009, 04:07 PM	#2
dreams It's about the umbrella Posts: 25,112 Karma: 56250158 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony 505\| K Fire \| KK 3G+Wi-Fi \| iPhone 3Gs \|Vista 32-bit Hm Prem w/FF	I found the below link with more information... I hope this helps.. http://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/AccentSpike.htm

09-21-2009, 04:15 PM	#3
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	My sister-in-law generally takes a a few jars home when she's been to the States again. I should tell her to take some for me as well... It's a mixture of various spices and generally very nice.

09-21-2009, 04:17 PM	#4
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Oooh. MSG. Hate it, makes my feet swell up like baked potatoes.

09-21-2009, 07:02 PM	#9
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	I'm a vegetarian so a good tofu marinade is always useful, thanks for posting it! As for what's in Spike, check http://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/AccentSpike.htm A LOT of ingredients, but is essentially seasoned salt. I did an Aussie google search for it, but couldn't find a way to get it over there

09-21-2009, 07:51 PM	#10
Wetdogeared Storm Surge'n Posts: 5,776 Karma: 8213195 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lobster Capital Device: S0ny PRS-300/350/505/700/T1	I've come across some recipes that substitute "Mrs. Dash® Original Blend" for "Spike Seasoning Blend". I'm not sure if Mrs Dash is available in your location or not.

09-21-2009, 08:06 PM	#12
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,185 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	Spike has no MSG. "High flavor yeast" is nutritional or brewer's yeast. I don't think it's got MSG in it, although perhaps MSG is derived from a different kind of yeast. My husband uses both extensively, and he's allergic to MSG. Spike is a savory seasoning, a blend of over 50 individual spices, so it's hard to match it--but shouldn't be too hard to substitute for it. Salt with flavor attached. For the recipe mentioned here, I'd probably mostly use salt, with some onion, garlic, and oregano. Could add other meat-flavoring herbs, if you like. I suspect the salt & onion are the most important parts. My husband, who is the cook in the family, is currently sleeping; I nudged him to ask what to substitute for Spike. He suggested mailing a jar of it, and fell back asleep. While I'm not opposed to the idea of spreading the Spike-love beyond the US borders, I doubt that it would get there in time to be useful for making this particular batch of marinade.

09-22-2009, 04:58 AM	#14
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Maybe a stupid question, but what is MSG?

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