Give Your Favorite Snack Mix An Umami-Boost With Just One Sauce

Whether you're hitting the hiking trail, gearing up for a long day at work, or simply lounging around the house, having a hearty snack mix on hand is essential for beating that mid-afternoon slump. While, as Ina Garten would say, a store-bought snack mix is fine, a homemade one has plenty of merits. For one thing, it's likely to be a lot more affordable, given that you can buy your ingredients in bulk and portion them out to perfection. For another, it allows you to fully customize your blend, guaranteeing that you won't end up picking around (and inevitably disposing of) your least favorite components. Lastly, it gives you the freedom to play around with the exact flavor ratios of your snack mix.

If you've got a taste for the savory, for example, you can't go wrong by amping up the umami flavor of your munchies by drizzling on some Worcestershire sauce. Though you're probably more likely to find the fermented condiment paired with meat dishes rather than pretzels, nuts, and squares of Chex cereal, it's a great option for increasing the savory depth of your snacking session. Just be sure to keep its saltiness in mind when adding it to your blend; a little certainly goes a long way in terms of taste, therefore you may want to replace some other ingredients to avoid a thirst-inducing overload of salt. Nevertheless, it's one of our favorite (albeit unexpected) additions to homemade snack mix.

We may not be able to help you pronounce it, but we can give you some tips for adding Worcestershire to your snack mix. First and foremost, you'll want to consider its flavor makeup. Most versions of the condiment consist of vinegar, molasses, onion, garlic, cloves, tamarind, chili pepper, and, of course, anchovies. Let's just say it's not a sauce that takes a back seat once it hits your taste buds. 

Given its rich, potent flavors, it's a good idea to hold off mixing it with any other ingredients that may compete for the spotlight, like ranch-seasoned potato chips or bold Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Additionally, while differing levels of sweet, spicy, salty, and savory can be the secret to a good snack mix, Worcestershire sauce's strong umami presence is not likely to meld well with the sweetness of dried fruit, gummy candy, or chocolate chips, so you may want to leave them at the door if Mr. Worcestershire gets invited to the party.

So, what does Worcestershire sauce work well with? Think crispy, crunchy, earthy, and slightly salty components like bagel chips, pretzels, nuts, and even bits of jerky or cured meat if you're looking for some extra protein. And lest we forget the classic staple: Chex cereal, the primary ingredient in perhaps the most famous snack mix there is. In fact, per the Chex website, Worcestershire sauce was (and still is) a main ingredient in the original Chex Party Mix recipe, so clearly, adding it to your munchie mix was meant to be.