Buzz
When Trader Joe’s Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend was first introduced, I received countless texts, DMs, and emails about it, all because my brand is undeniably influential. As someone who loves the fifth taste, I couldn’t wait to try this powder, especially after TJ’s had discontinued their umami paste.
The seasoning blend does deliver a pleasing flavor—it works especially well on popcorn—but it doesn’t quite capture the essence of true umami. The dried mushrooms provide a savory touch, but they are overshadowed by crushed red pepper, thyme, onion, mustard, and a hefty amount of salt. While it’s certainly not bad, it wasn’t the deep, earthy mushroom flavor I was hoping for, which is why I decided to craft my own mushroom-heavy powder (and months later, I finally did).
To start, the mushrooms. Like Trader Joe’s, I chose rich, buttery porcini mushrooms, but I also added shiitakes, as Dan Boeckner aptly described in his iconic How I Eat, because they possess a delightful “umami-MSG vibe.” The combination of these two types of mushrooms, along with just a hint of onion, garlic, and salt, created an irresistibly savory powder that lets the umami flavor take center stage. To make it, you’ll need:
1/4 cup dried shiitake mushrooms
1/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Blend everything in a food processor, spice grinder, or high-speed blender until it becomes a fine powder. Sprinkle over anything that isn’t a dessert. Can you add MSG to the mix? Certainly, you can, and I wouldn’t stop you—but first, try it without, and use just a light touch; you don’t want to overwhelm the mushrooms.
