Clearly, toasted milk powder was not part of the original Everything Spice Blend. We add it here to give it depth of flavor. That milk proteins also help it stick to the fish is an incidental benefit. The real bonus is the toasty flavor it imparts, which adds to the perception of the toasted bagel flavor in the finished fish or whatever else you may season with it.

　　

Ingredients

makes about 3 3/4 cups

　　2 packets nonfat dry milk (enough to make 1 quart/1,040 grams milk)

　　1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons/47 grams dried minced onion

　　1/2 cup/60 grams sesame seeds

　　8 teaspoons/25 grams poppy seeds

　　3 tablespoons/20 grams garlic powder

　　4 teaspoons/10 grams caraway seeds

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

　　

Step 2

Combine the dry milk, dried onion, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic powder, and caraway seeds in a shallow baking dish. Toast the mixture in the oven for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to ensure even browning. When the mixture is amber brown, remove it from the oven and let cool.

　　

Step 3

Process the mixture briefly in a food processor to break up any large chunks of milk powder that may have formed in the toasting process and to evenly distribute the spices. The spice blend will keep in an airtight container for a month.

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