Montreal steak seasoning is hands down the best dry-rub mixture for steaks. Its bold and zesty flavor tastes similar to the pickling spice of corned beef or pastrami, and that’s no surprise since the Montreal steak spice recipe is an imitation of Romanian pastramă– a popular dish from Romania made from lamb or pork.

But that’s not all; Montreal seasoning can spice up any meal, and you won’t need to spend money to have it. This article lists some easy homemade Montreal steak spice recipes you can try. So tighten your aprons, heat the stove, and keep reading to end up with delicious, mouth-watering steaks.

A Little About Montreal Steak Spice Recipe

History of Montreal steak spice, also known as a Canadian steak seasoning, or Canadian steak spice is the famously pungent spice rub that comes from Montreal, a city in the Canadian province of Quebec.

However, the method of rubbing spices imitates Romanian pastramă– a popular dish from Romania made from lamb or pork, which Romanian Jewish immigrants introduced to Montreal.

1. Montreal Steak Spice Recipe 01

This recipe is by Glen and Friends of LeGourmet TV, who are all about food. They grow their gardens and make pickles and jams.

They start with base ingredients and present recipes with their little tweaks. Yet again, Glen and Friends have brought in a clear recipe: their DIY interpretation of the Montreal steak spice recipe for BBQ.

1.1 Ingredients

• Coarse salt- 2 tbsp 
• Ground black pepper- 1 tbsp 
• Ground white pepper- 1 tbsp 
• Dill seed- 1 tbsp 
• Mustard seeds- 1 tbsp 
• Onion flakes or powder- 1 tbsp 
• Cracked coriander seed- 1 tbsp 
• Hot pepper flakes- 1 tbsp 
• Granulated garlic or garlic powder- 1 tbsp 

1.2 Process of Making

• Prepare a bowl big enough for all the spices.
• Pour all the Spices you have prepared and measured into the bowl.
• Mix the spices well with a spoon.
• And the Montreal steak spice is ready to use.

Do not grind the spices too finely, using a food processor or grinder. You can use a mortar and pestle to lightly grind the spices and store them in an air-tight container.

2. Montreal Steak Spice Recipe 02

This spice recipe is by chef John Politte, and he is more than just a chef.

He holds around 40-odd years of experience as a chef and in many other personas and professions, including multi-level manager, teacher, bartender, bouncer, media personality, food journalist, dishwasher, waiter, online seasonings and spice shop curator, food photographer, podcaster and cookbook author.

With his wide spectrum of knowledge and experience, he introduced his version of the homemade Montreal steak spice recipe.

2.1 Ingredients

• Whole peppercorns- 2 tbsp
• Coriander seeds- 1 tbsp
• Dehydrated onion- 1 tbsp
• Dehydrated garlic- 2 tbsp
• Dill seed- 1 tbsp
• Red chili flakes- 1 tbsp
• Paprika- 1 tbsp
• Kosher salt- 2 tbsp

2.2 Process of Making

• Take a bowl to hold all the prepared spices. 
• In the bowl, add dehydrated garlic, dehydrated onion, paprika, and coarse salt.
• Next, heat a pan and add peppercorns, coriander seeds, dill seeds, and red chili flakes.
• Roast the spices just enough to get a little fragrance off of them. Roasting the spices lightly enhances the flavor of the Montreal steak seasoning.
• Next, transfer the roasted spices to a mortar and pestle with the other ingredients resting in the bowl.
• Crush them enough to break the seed pods, and once you are satisfied with the fineness, store them in a container. 

Remember, if you use a food processor or an electric grinder, keep yourself from grinding the seasoning too finely.

3. Montreal Steak Spice Recipe 03

This Montreal steak spice recipe is by Debra Clark, the Soup Queen. She’s the rightful owner, creator, and head photographer of ‘Bowl Me Over’.

Debra shares easy solutions for creating simple and tasty dishes. Likewise, Debra presented her version of the Montreal steak spice recipe. Let’s see how she makes it.

3.1 Ingredients

• Dill weed (Dried)- 1 tbsp 
• Red pepper flakes (Crushed )- 1 tbsp 
• Minced garlic- 1 tbsp
• Coriander- 1 tbsp
• Onion powder- 1 tsp 
• Smoked paprika (or paprika)- 2 tbsp
• Kosher salt ( or coarse salt)- 2 tbsp
• Coarse black pepper- 2 tbsp

3.2 Process of Making

• Prepare a jar to keep the spice blend.
• One by one, pour all the ingredients into the jar.
• Close the jar lid and shake it well to blend the spices.
• The Montreal steak spice is ready to use!

4. Montreal Steak Spice Recipe 04

The fourth and last Montreal steak spice recipe of our article is by Rachel Farnsworth. Rachel is a cookbook author whose recipes are used in restaurants and bakeries worldwide.

She has created a space, ‘Stay At Home Chef,’ where she shares easy and restaurant-quality recipes and recipe video tutorials that can be easily made at home. Today, Rachel bought her version of the Montreal steak spice recipe.

4.1 Ingredients

• Salt- 2 tbsp
• Garlic powder- 2 tsp 
• Black pepper- 1 tbsp
• White pepper- 1 tbsp
• Onion powder- 1 tsp 
• Smoked paprika- 1 tsp 

4.2 Process of Making

• Prepare a bowl that can hold all the spices.
• Start adding all the ingredients into the bowl, one by one.
• Stir and mix the spices well using a spoon. 
• Now, transfer your Montreal steak seasoning to an air-tight container ready to use.

5. Montreal Steak Spice Substitutes

True Montreal seasoning can liven up your cooking; however, even without Montreal steak seasoning, you can still make some mouth-watering steaks as there are plenty of flavorful alternatives.

Here are five substitutes for Montreal steak seasoning that will do the trick if you don’t have any Montreal steak spices.

• Carne Asada Steak seasoning: This pack of bright flavors is a classic, savory Mexican mix with unique herbs and spices, including garlic, chili pepper, and cumin, that unravels the bold, coarser, and earthy flavors.
• Chili Rub Steak Seasoning: This smokey steak seasoning blends with chili peppers, garlic, and other spices and kicks in the robust and spicy flavors without overpowering the dish.
• Black pepper and Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire sauce, also known as Worcester sauce, has a savory, sweet, salty, and tangy that can enhance the steak flavor, while the black pepper adds coarse and spiciness to the meat.

• Herb-infused olive oils: This flavorful olive oil is a great addition to countless dishes, including on bread, in soups, or in salad dressings and marinades for extra flavor. They add a velvety smooth texture with biting bursts of flavor that come in delicious variations that can tantalize the taste buds.
• All-purpose steak seasoning: This kitchen staple is a pack of flavors and versatility with its unique blend of spices, including dried herbs, garlic, and onion, that can create a delicious flavor-bursting combination.

6. Tips for a Perfect Steak

You don’t need fancy top-tier skills to cook a perfect steak; just follow these tips and rules to yield the best results.

• Choose the right steak because it is far more important to pick out the right one based on its quality than applying advanced techniques and unique spices.
• Choosing the right cut based on your personal preferences is also equally important. There are many types of steak cuts, such as strip steak, tenderloin steak, porterhouse steak, hanger steak, skirt steak, short ribs, flap steak, and more. Filet Mignon, also known as filet steak from the cow’s lower back, is regarded as a premium cut.
• Choose simple utensils while cooking. All it requires is a grill (wood or charcoal burning) or cast iron skillet to ensure even heat distribution, tongs, and a sharp knife, and if you are cooking in a skillet, you need a spoon. 
• Keep the thermometer on hand. You should check the temperature even before starting; this can impact your cooking.
• If the steak is stone cold, just take it out of the freezer, and it needs tender care. Always cook the cold steak, constantly flipping both sides, allowing the heat to penetrate the steak, and cook it evenly and thoroughly. 
• The thickness of the steak matters when cooking because it can influence how quickly the steak cooks.
• Avoid high heat; you want your steak to be evenly cooked with the least amount of gray ring.
• Chef’s tip: if you want your steak to be soft, delicious, and juicy, make sure to rest your steak for a few minutes before serving.

Conclusion

Romanian Jewish immigrants introduced the Montreal steak spice recipe to Canada, and it is a popular choice for adding robust flavor to steaks and other dishes.

However, if you don’t want to drive to the grocery store, follow your choice of Montreal steak spice recipe shared in the article. But if none is to your liking, you can add your preferred spice blend and tweak it for your taste buds.

However, if you don’t want to play with spices and want to fix up something quick, the five substitutes of Montreal steak seasoning are at your service. Furthermore, remember those tips and rules to end up with juicy and delicious meals. 

So, what’s your favorite steak cut? Share your preferences in the comments, and let us know your version of the Montreal steak spice recipe.

Last Updated on January 24, 2024 by Namrata