FOOD NEWS
What Makes Montreal And Chicago Seasoning Different
BY KATHERINE BECK
Montreal and Chicago seasoning blends are both perfect for tenderloin, chops, ribs, and burgers. Though these blends share some ingredients, they also have one major difference.
There is no one definitive recipe for either Montreal or Chicago seasoning, but Chicago spice blends tend to have more red pepper flakes than blends labeled as Montreal.
A standard recipe for Montreal steak seasoning calls for salt, black pepper, paprika, granulated garlic, granulated onion, cayenne pepper, ground coriander, and ground dill seed.
A similar list of spices goes into a Chicago steak seasoning: salt, pepper, minced onion, and minced garlic. Some recipes call for crushed red pepper flakes.
A bottled Chicago blend from the brand Weber has red bell pepper, red pepper, garlic, and onion, offering a sweet and mild flavor that has just a little bit of spice.
Meanwhile, the dill seeds in Montreal seasoning add herbaceous, almost bitter notes. Generally speaking, Chicago seasoning is more hot, while Montreal's is more distinctly herbal.