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    You are here: Home / Recipes by Dish / Seasoning / Cajun Seasoning

    Cajun Seasoning

    27 September 2021 - By Michelle Minnaar
    This post may contain affiliate links.

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    A delicious spice mix that adds so much character to so many dishes, homemade Cajun seasoning is a thing of beauty!

    Small jar of cajun seasoning

    Forget store bought spice blends and make your own! It’s so simple and takes just a minute or two.

    Products you need for this recipe

    • Storage jars – it’s really important to properly store your homemade Cajun seasoning, to best preserve that incredible flavor. These little jars are perfect 
    • Spice grinder – the ultimate solution to a lumpy spice mix
    Bowl of spices with spoon

    Homemade cajun seasoning recipe

    Better than any store bought spice blends, this recipe combines some amazing herbs and spices and elevates pretty much any dish.

    If you’re after an extra hit of subtle spicy flavor, Cajun seasoning is the ingredient you need. Whether or not you’re a fan of Cajun cuisine, this spice mix is going to bring a new dimension to your favorite dishes.

    If you’re not a fan of hot food, don’t worry. This is not a super hot spice mix. It’s all about subtlety and harmony. 

    The common spices in Cajun seasoning – paprika and cayenne pepper – bring an earthiness and warmth, which is complemented by the herbs – in this recipe, I’ve gone with thyme and oregano for that floral fragrance and savory taste. 

    Garlic powder, onion powder and salt complete the seasoning mix, adding those essential savory notes that make this a very special spice mix.  

    Mixed cajun seasoning

    What is cajun seasoning?

    It’s a heady blend of earthy spices and herbs that takes the taste of meat, fish and vegetable and rice dishes to another dimension.

    Although it’s readily available in good supermarkets and food stores, you can easily make this wonderful Cajun seasoning blend yourself. 

    What’s the origin story of this spice mix? 

    This magical mixture was first conjured up in Louisiana. The capital of Cajun cuisine, Louisiana became home to Acadians (French settlers), who had moved south from Canada in the 17th century.

    The Acadians developed their cuisine based on the local ingredients available to them. So, oysters, crab, alligator, shrimp, crawfish and catfish, all caught off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and in the local bayou, became staple foods.

    The best seasoning for these ingredients were exotic spices like cayenne pepper and paprika, especially considering the influence of Spanish cuisine on the Acadians.

    This kind of rustic, hearty cooking soon made Louisiana the home of delicious Cajun cuisine. The traditional spice blend would develop to include ground black pepper, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper and oregano.

    What’s the difference between Cajun and Creole food?

    Both types of food originated in Louisiana and both have a similar list of ingredients and flavor profile. However, there are a few key differences.

    Firstly, Creole food tends to be tomato-based, unlike Cajun food. Another simple distinction is that Cajun is considered “country food”, whereas Creole is said to be “city food.”

    How to store cajun seasoning

    You need to keep Cajun seasoning in an airtight container. I recommend storing it in small glass jars and keeping them in a dry, dark place – in other words, in your cupboard.

    If stored properly, Cajun seasoning will last up to a year. However, after 3 months, it will start to lose its potency.

    Variations on this recipe

    If you’re a heat junkie, add more cayenne pepper! You could also opt for a hot paprika rather than a mild one.

    In terms of herbs, you can swap out either oregano or thyme with rosemary or marjoram. You could even throw in a teaspoon of Italian seasoning blend or herbes de provence. 

    Tips for the perfect spice blend

    Here are a few handy tips to get the best out of this wonderful Cajun seasoning:

    Double or triple the measurements of this seasoning blend to make sure you always have some readily available

    There are two main types of paprika – sweet and smoked. Go for the one that best suits your tastes

    There are also two types of oregano – Mexican and Mediterranean. Mexican has lemony citrus flavors, which are a better fit with the spices that make Cajun seasoning so delicious

    If you find some of the ingredients become too lumpy, break them down in a spice grinder or food processor

    Use freshly ground black pepper for maximum flavor

    As this seasoning mix contains smoked paprika and salt, you won’t need to add any extra salt to the meat, fish or vegetables that you use it with

    How to use cajun spice

    You don’t have to use this Cajun seasoning recipe with Cajun food. Here are some ideas of how to get the best out of this magical seasoning.

    With meat

    This smoky seasoning works wonders with any kind of meat, particularly chicken. Use it in this oven baked barbecue chicken recipe, replacing the ingredients in the recipe with the Cajun seasoning recipe. Smoked chicken Cajun-style is another great idea and of course, you can use this very well with my Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe.

    With potatoes

    A great way to give your potatoes an edge is to sprinkle some Cajun seasoning over them before cooking. Make these parmentier potatoes with the addition of a bit of Cajun spice for an out of this world side.

    With rice

    It’s got to be jambalaya. Try this vegan jambalaya for the perfect vegan Cajun rice dish.

    With pasta

    Take a standard in a totally new direction. Cajun seasoning works with pretty much any pasta dish, but try my Cajun chicken pasta and you’ll be seriously impressed!

    With fish and seafood

    Meaty white fish and rich seafood make a perfect pairing with a bit of Cajun spice. Cook up some pan-fried garlic butter prawns, crab, crawfish or oysters and make it sing with some delicious Cajun seasoning. You should also check out my prawn etouffee recipe, a Cajun classic!

    With vegetables

    Any hearty vegetables taste great with this spice blend. Go for broccoli or cauliflower and throw into a vegetable stir fry. Also, add this seasoning to sautéed peppers and onions for a sumptuous spiced side dish.

    With beans or chickpeas

    Spice up a white bean dip with some of your special seasoning or make roasted chickpeas with this spice blend for a sensational snack.

    Small jar of cajun seasoning

    More spice mix recipes

    If this Cajun seasoning recipe has left your taste buds tingling, I’ve got a couple more spicy secrets for you:

    • Jerk spice – a world-famous spice blend that brings some incredible flavor, jerk spice is extremely versatile and unbelievably tasty 
    • Chaat masala – one of the most commonly used spice blends in Indian cuisine, chaat masala is the go-to flavor enhancer for many of Indian best-loved snack and side recipes
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    An open clear jar of cajun seasoning

    Cajun Seasoning Recipe


    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    • Author: Michelle Minnaar
    • Total Time: 5 minutes
    • Yield: almost 1 cup (100g) 1x
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Learn how to blend spices to make your own homemade Cajun Seasoning. This easy recipe will add character to your favourite dishes.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 21g (3 tbsp) paprika
    • 34g (2 tbsp) salt
    • 20g (2 tbsp) garlic powder
    • 7g (1 tbsp) ground black pepper
    • 5g (1 tbsp) cayenne pepper
    • 4g (1 tbsp) dried thyme
    • 3g (1 tbsp) dried oregano
    • 7g (1 tbsp) onion powder

    Instructions

    • Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and store in an airtight jar. 
    • Alternatively, if some of the ingredients are a bit lumpy, put everything in a grinder or strong food processor and blitz until the ingredients are better incorporated. Then store in an airtight jar. 
    • Use in dishes and recipes as you see fit. Enjoy!
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 0 minutes
    • Category: Seasoning
    • Method: Grind
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: cajun seasoning, homemade cajun seasoning recipe, how to make cajun seasoning, cajun spices, what is cajun seasoning, creaole seasoning, american seasoning recipe

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @greedygourmet on Instagram and hashtag it #greedygourmet

    More Seasoning

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    • Salt and Pepper Seasoning
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    Comments

    1. Roxanne

      March 23, 2022 at 1:38 pm

      This seasoning always seems to taste better when you make it yourself! I use this with chicken & fries and I can't think of two ingredients better suited to this seasoning.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Amelia

      April 11, 2022 at 1:57 pm

      This seasoning with chicken is absolutely incredible! 6/5

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Michelle Minnaar

        April 12, 2022 at 1:42 pm

        Chicken is my favourite meat to use with this seasoning, the flavour is unmatched! Thanks Amelia

        Reply

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