Put down the fancy jar at the grocery store. Step away from the aisle. We need to have a serious talk about your seasoning habits. You know the one I mean—that little glass container of Everything Bagel Seasoning Blend that you paid way too much for. 🥯
I used to be just like you. I bought into the hype, sprinkling that magical, salty, crunchy dust on my avocado toast every single morning. I treated it like gold dust. Then, one day, I looked at the label.
Sesame seeds. Garlic. Onion. Salt. Poppy seeds.
That’s it. I realized I was paying a premium for someone else to shake five cheap ingredients together. Talk about a wake-up call. 😲
Making this stuff at home isn’t just about saving a few bucks (though you absolutely will). It’s about control. You control the salt level. You control the garlic-to-onion ratio. You ensure the seeds are fresh and not stale leftovers from 2019.
Ready to ruin store-bought seasoning for yourself forever? Let’s do this. 👊
Why You Need This Magic Dust in Your Life
If you’ve lived under a rock for the last decade, you might wonder what the fuss is about. Why do people obsess over Everything Bagel Seasoning Blend?
It’s simple: texture and umami.
Most home cooking fails because it lacks crunch or savory depth. This blend solves both problems instantly. The seeds provide a satisfying “pop” and crunch, while the dried onion and garlic rehydrate slightly in your mouth, delivering a savory punch that fresh garlic just doesn’t mimic. 🤤
The “Trader Joe’s” Effect
We have to give credit where it’s due. Trader Joe’s popularized this stuff with their “Everything but the Bagel” shaker. It became a cult classic. But here’s the kicker: their version is incredibly salty.
When you make your own, you fix the flaws. You create a blend that fits your palate. Want more poppy seeds? Add them. Hate salt? Leave it out. You hold the power. ⚡
The Holy Trinity (Plus Two) of Ingredients
To make the perfect blend, you must understand your components. You can’t just throw random amounts in a bowl and hope for the best. Balance is key. ⚖️
Here is exactly what you need to hunt down in your pantry or bulk aisle:
- White Sesame Seeds: The base. They provide nutty, mild flavor and the bulk of the crunch.
- Dried Minced Onion: Do not use onion powder. I repeat, do not use onion powder. You need the little flakes for texture.
- Dried Minced Garlic: Same rule applies. You want the crunchy bits, not the dust.
- Black Sesame Seeds: These look cool and add a slightly more bitter, earthy note than their white counterparts.
- Poppy Seeds: These add a distinct visual flair and a tiny, nutty crunch that gets stuck in your teeth (worth it).
- Flaked Sea Salt: This is the secret weapon. Table salt creates a salty stinging sensation. Flaked salt (like Maldon) offers a pleasant, crunchy burst of salinity. 🧂
Pro Tip: Check the dates on your seeds. Sesame seeds contain oil. Old oil goes rancid. If your seeds smell like old crayons, toss them and buy fresh ones. Trust me on this.
The Ultimate DIY Everything Bagel Seasoning Blend Recipe
Okay, grab a small bowl. We aren’t baking a soufflé here; we are just mixing stuff. But precision helps if you want that classic flavor profile.
I’ve tweaked this ratio over years of eating way too many eggs. IMO, this is the perfect balance. 🍳
The Ratios
- 2 tablespoons White Sesame Seeds
- 1 ½ tablespoons Dried Minced Onion
- 1 ½ tablespoons Dried Minced Garlic
- 1 ½ tablespoons Black Sesame Seeds
- 1 tablespoon Poppy Seeds
- 1 teaspoon Flaked Sea Salt (Adjust this to taste—start low, you can always add more)
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients. Lay them out so you don’t forget one.
- Mix. Dump everything into a small bowl or jar.
- Shake. Put a lid on the jar and shake it like you mean it.
- Taste. Dip a finger in. Does it need more salt? More garlic? Adjust it now.
- Seal. Screw the lid on tight.
That’s it. You just made the best Everything Bagel Seasoning Blend of your life in under two minutes. 🎉
Nutritional Information (Per Serving)
Let’s look at the numbers. Since we usually sprinkle this with abandon, I’ll base this on a 1 teaspoon serving size.
- Calories: 15 kcal
- Total Fat: 1g
- Total Carbohydrates: 1g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Sodium: 80mg (varies depending on your salt hand)
Ever wonder why this seasoning fits into almost every diet? It’s low carb, keto-friendly, gluten-free (check your labels), and vegan. It adds massive flavor without adding sugar or processed junk. 🔥
To Toast or Not To Toast?
This is a controversial topic in the seasoning community. Yes, there is a seasoning community. Don’t judge. 🤫
Most store-bought blends use raw seeds. However, toasting the sesame seeds releases their oils and intensifies the flavor.
If you want to level up: Throw your white and black sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat. Shake the pan constantly for about 2–3 minutes until they smell fragrant. Do not burn them. Let them cool completely before mixing with the onion and garlic.
Why cool them? If you mix hot seeds with dried garlic, the heat will steam the garlic, making it soft. We want crunch, not mush.
Personally? I usually skip toasting because I’m lazy. But if I’m making a batch for a gift, I toast them. It shows I care. 🎁
10 Ways to Use It (That Aren’t Bagels)
You have a jar of this stuff. Now, what do you do with it? If you only put it on bagels, you lack imagination. Sorry, but it’s true. 🤷♂️
Here are my absolute favorite ways to use Everything Bagel Seasoning Blend:
1. The Classic Avocado Toast
Mash a ripe avocado on sourdough. Squeeze a lemon wedge over it. Drizzle with good olive oil. Hit it with a heavy hand of seasoning. It’s a cliché for a reason—it works. 🥑
2. Popcorn Upgrade
Make your popcorn. Toss it with melted butter or ghee. Sprinkle the seasoning while the butter is still wet. The garlic and onion cling to the kernels and create a savory explosion.
3. Bloody Mary Rims
Forget plain celery salt. Wet the rim of your glass with a lime wedge. Dip the rim into a saucer of Everything Bagel Seasoning Blend. It looks professional and tastes amazing with the tomato juice. 🍹
4. Roasted Vegetables
Toss broccoli, cauliflower, or carrots in olive oil. Roast them until tender. Sprinkle the seasoning on after they come out of the oven. (If you put it on before, the garlic might burn).
5. Cream Cheese Dip
Mix two tablespoons of seasoning into a tub of plain cream cheese or Greek yogurt. Let it sit in the fridge for an hour so the flavors meld. Serve with pretzels or cucumber slices.
6. Breaded Chicken
Mix the seasoning into your panko breadcrumbs before coating chicken cutlets. Fry or bake as usual. The seeds add an incredible crust. 🍗
7. Hummus Topper
Store-bought hummus looks sad. Drizzle olive oil over the top and add a generous pinch of seasoning. Suddenly, it looks like an appetizer from a swanky Mediterranean restaurant.
8. Savory Oatmeal
Don’t knock it until you try it. Make oatmeal with water or broth instead of milk. Top with a fried egg, scallions, and the seasoning blend. Breakfast of champions. 🥣
9. Salad crunch
Skip the croutons. Just shake this over your greens. It adds the necessary texture without the stale bread calories.
10. Mac and Cheese
Make a box of mac and cheese. Stir in the seasoning. The sharp cheddar pairs perfectly with the onion and garlic notes.
Troubleshooting Your Blend
Did something go wrong? It happens. Here is how you fix common issues.
“It’s too salty!” You used table salt, didn’t you? Or you just have a heavy hand. Add more sesame seeds (white and black) to dilute the mixture. Shake it up and try again.
“The garlic tastes bitter.” You might have bought “toasted” dried garlic, or you burned it if you tried the heating method. Unfortunately, you can’t fix burned garlic. You have to start over. Consider it a learning experience. 📉
“It clumps together.” Moisture is the enemy. Did you use a wet spoon? Is your kitchen very humid? Add a few grains of uncooked rice to the shaker jar (too big to come out of the holes) to act as a desiccant and absorb moisture.
Storage: Keep It Crunchy
You made a masterpiece. Now, you need to protect it.
Air destroys this blend. If you leave the lid off, the humidity in the air turns the dried onion and garlic soft. Chewy garlic flakes are not appetizing. 🤢
- Container: Use a glass jar with a tight-sealing lid. Mason jars work great.
- Location: Store it in a cool, dark cupboard. Heat and light degrade the oils in the seeds.
- Labeling: Put a date on it. FYI, spices don’t “go bad” in a way that makes you sick, but they lose flavor. Aim to use your batch within 3 months.
If you open the jar and it smells like nothing, it tastes like nothing. Throw it out and make a fresh batch. It costs pennies, remember?
Why The Type of Salt Matters More Than You Think
I mentioned this earlier, but I want to double down on it. The type of salt you use dictates the success of your Everything Bagel Seasoning Blend.
Table salt is dense. It packs a lot of sodium into a tiny crystal. Because it’s so small, it falls to the bottom of the jar. When you shake it, you get a mouthful of seeds at the top and a salt lick at the bottom.
Flaked sea salt (like Maldon or a coarse Kosher salt) has surface area. It’s light and jagged. It mixes evenly with the seeds and stays suspended in the blend. Plus, when you bite into a flake, you get a crunch, not a grit.
If you care about your food, invest in the good salt. You’ll thank me later. 🙏
The Economics of DIY vs. Store-Bought
Let’s talk money. We all like saving it.
A standard 2.3 oz jar of name-brand seasoning costs anywhere from $2.99 to $4.99. That works out to roughly $25–$35 per pound.
When you buy the ingredients in bulk:
- Sesame seeds: ~$6/lb
- Dried Onion/Garlic: ~$8/lb
- Salt: Negligible.
You can produce pounds of this stuff for a fraction of the cost. You can fill jars for your friends. You can give it away as holiday gifts. You can bathe in it (please don’t do that). 💸
Plus, you avoid the anti-caking agents and preservatives often found in the generic grocery store versions. You are eating real food, and you kept more money in your wallet.
Conclusion: Embrace the Shake
You now possess the knowledge to create the ultimate condiment. You understand the ratios, the ingredients, and the technique. You have liberated yourself from the grocery store spice aisle.
Cooking should be fun. It should be about experimenting and finding what you love. Maybe you love extra garlic. Maybe you want to add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. Go for it. There are no seasoning police coming to your door.
So, go check your pantry. I bet you have half these ingredients already. Buy the rest, mix them up, and sprinkle that savory goodness on everything in sight.
Your avocado toast is waiting. 🍞
