Substitutes for Spike seasoning

Spike seasoning refers to a brand of seasoning, originally created by Gayelord Hauser and now manufactured by Modern Products, Inc. and sold under the Gayelord Hauser name. Spike seasoning comes in several varieties, but the original Spike seasoning blend contains 39 different herbs, spices and vegetables, including salt, nutritional yeast, hydrolyzed vegetable protein -- a form of MSG. Because of the number of ingredients, Spike seasoning can be difficult to replicate or replace. However, there are several brands of all-purpose seasoning.

McCormick is a widely distributed brand of seasonings and offers a variety of blends created specifically for different foods, such as chicken, beef and seafood, as well as for popular cuisines like Mexican and Italian. The company's gourmet blends give cooks access to more exotic combinations of flavours, too. It offers a Mediterranean Sea Salt blend, for example, that combines many of the flavours included in Spike seasoning: garlic, oregano, lemon peel and hot and sweet peppers. It is a good substitute for Spike on its own or in combination with other herbs or spice blends.

Chef Paul Prudhomme's Magic Seasoning Salt Free All-Purpose Blend omits the salt and unhealthy sodium, but adds a slightly sweet and savoury mix of flavours. The blend includes chillies, toasted onion, dehydrated onion, red and green bell pepper, brown sugar, garlic, paprika, vinegar and other spices. This seasoning is available in many supermarket chains and online, so it is easy to purchase and use, no matter where you live and will add to an array of dishes and foods.

Though it has far fewer ingredients, Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning is a hot spice blend that works well in a variety of dishes. Consisting mainly of salt, red pepper and garlic, the mix also contains other spices its makers refuse to reveal on its packaging. This secret blend adds a spicy kick when shaken over just about anything and can be bought online.