Cajun Seasoning Recipe (2024)

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Steve Muni

Too heavy on the salt for me. Emeril Lagasse's version cuts back on the salt and adds some dried thyme and dried oregano. Also no sugar, but adds cayenne pepper for some heat. I think it works much better.

Ken

Holy cow! The salt! Try Emeril's recipe. It's excellent.

Ben Scott

Ridiculous amount of salt. Focus on the herbs you like and just add a pinch or two of salt.

Sean

I think some folks should read Samin Nosrat's Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. Used as a rub, the salt would act as a tenderizer for the meat it's going on, getting into the meat at the molecular level, so you're not going to be overwhelmed by saltiness. And if you're just sprinkling it on something, you won't have that much salt to contend with. You'll be fine.

Calandra

Made this last night as a rub for 12 chicken drumsticks. Omitted the sugar, cut down the salt to about a tablespoon or so, added a tablespoon and a half of baking powder (said to help with crispiness), and a touch of cayenne. Stored the drumsticks uncovered in the refrigerator for about 3 hours then grilled. Kids and adults alike loved it!

Diana

I wonder the people that said it was too salty used Diamond Crystal Salt or something like Morton's. Diamond Crystal has about half the salt "flavor" than Morton's or other salts. I used the full amount in the recipe and it was fine.

Bobby

Wayyyy too much salt. Made it a second time and instead of the amount of salt they ask for, I only used one tablespoon of sea salt. It was perfect.

Balwant

Skip sugar

Paul McDonnell, NYC

One tablespoon of fine sea salt delivers WAY more than 47 milligrams of sodium -- it is probably a typo, as it is in the low four-digits. For those of us with hyper tension issues.

Michael

As a native of Cajun country, seasoning mix sans cayenne pepper isn't Cajun—period. Has Mr. Wells has ever traveled to Acadiana (or New Orleans or Louisiana)? Lots of companies make Cajun spice blends, each with a proprietary variation of components. But this is a sham and should be taken down.If you need a quick fix of what real Cajuns turn to in a pinch, buy Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning from my hometown of Opelousas, LA. It's on the salty side but available at almost any national chain.

Dave

I wish more cajun cooks used this. I lived in Louisiana for a couple of years and learned that "cajon seasoning" usually meant MSG with some cayenne.

Theresa

Is Cajun seasoning the same as blackened seasoning?

Michael

No, though there are shared components. Blackening seasonings contain herbs and spices designed to produce the desired flavor when burnt ("blackened"). The idea is to sear the seasoned product so thoroughly that it literally chars. (Which is why one generally cooks this outside: it produces a LOT of smoke.) My go-to packaged seasonings are Paul Prudhomme's blackening mixes. Sometimes the small bottles are in grocery stores. For big containers, go to amazon.com. Done right, blackening is amazing.

Steve Muni

Too heavy on the salt for me. Emeril Lagasse's version cuts back on the salt and adds some dried thyme and dried oregano. Also no sugar, but adds cayenne pepper for some heat. I think it works much better.

Stephen Holowid

I am just now looking at Emeril Lagasses' CREOLE seasoning, and, he asks for TWO tablespoons of salt!!! Huh! Would someone please clarify how his is better than this one? And, for the uninitiated, is there a difference between Creole and Cajun spices?! Thanks.

Ken

Holy cow! The salt! Try Emeril's recipe. It's excellent.

John

Too heavy in salt for my taste. Did 1.5 teaspoon garlic, added .5 teaspoon cayenne and teaspoon brown sugar to even out the salt. Will skip the sea salt next time, maybe cut a tablespoon of kosher salt out

John

Oh, forgot to say skipped onion powder as I was out. Rubbed some chicken with this, left it for an hour, then roasted in oven with garlic and shallots in oil.

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Cajun Seasoning Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Cajun seasoning made of? ›

What Is In Cajun Spice Mix? Typical Cajun seasonings (including store-bought like Slap Ya Mama and Tony Chachere's) are made with black pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. For different flavors, some Cajun spice mixes include salt, mustard powder, chile peppers, or cumin.

What ingredients are used in Cajun cooking? ›

Cajun seasonings consist of a blend of salt with a variety of spices, most common being cayenne pepper and garlic. The spicy heat comes from the cayenne pepper, while other flavors come from bell pepper, paprika, green onions, parsley and more.

What is the closest seasoning to Cajun seasoning? ›

Chili powder + dried thyme + cayenne pepper

If you really don't have many ingredients in your pantry, you can pull together a basic substitute for Cajun seasoning using 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of dried thyme and 1/4- 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.

What are the three ingredients of Cajun? ›

The "holy trinity" in Cajun cuisine and Louisiana Creole cuisine is the base for several dishes in the regional cuisines of Louisiana and consists of onions, bell peppers and celery. The preparation of Cajun/Creole dishes such as crawfish étouffée, gumbo, and jambalaya all start from this base.

What is the Holy Trinity of Cajun cooking? ›

The Holy Trinity is a classic flavor base when cooking Cajun dishes. It is typically arrived at by sauteing a combination of diced onions, bell peppers and celery. Cooking the vegetables in butter or oil releases their flavor, which is infused into any sauce mixture when other ingredients are added.

What is the difference between Creole and Cajun seasoning? ›

The main difference is the spice factor present in the Cajun seasoning, which makes Creole seasoning a great alternative for someone hoping to try their hand at shrimp étouffée, but can't handle the heat. Spiceography notes the extra heat of Cajun seasoning may be considered too strong, though, for some Creole dishes.

What is the same as Cajun seasoning? ›

If you are looking for low-calorie substitutes for Cajun seasoning, here are some options you can try: Herbs and Spices: Mix together dried thyme, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper to create a low-calorie Cajun seasoning blend.

What is in Mccormick Cajun seasoning? ›

Our Cajun-style spice brings robust flavor to your cooking with herbs and spices like paprika, thyme, garlic, celery seed and red pepper. Taste our seasoning and dive into Cajun culture, even if just for a moment. It's a flavorful, spicy way to serve chicken, shrimp, fish, rice and more with Louisiana-style flair.

Is Cajun Spice same as Old Bay? ›

In a word: No. While Cajun seasoning comes in many varieties, Old Bay is a specific brand, though you can make our Old Bay copycat recipe at home. Most Cajun seasoning blends are spicier than Old Bay, and Old Bay contains ingredients like bay leaf, celery salt, and mustard that aren't usually in Cajun spice blends.

What's the difference between Cajun and Old Bay? ›

Old Bay and Cajun seasonings are often mistaken for each other because they have a few ingredients in common. However, Old Bay has a very specific recipe containing 18 different ingredients, and while Cajun seasoning has no single proprietary blend, it is typically made up of 10 or fewer ingredients.

Is Tajin a Cajun? ›

Mexican cuisine makes great use of chili and lime, so it makes perfect sense that Tajín seasoning was created by a Mexican company.

Is Cajun and Louisiana spice the same? ›

Cajun seasoning is a blend of spices that originated in Louisiana (which is why it's also sometimes known as Louisiana cajun seasoning). It typically contains a mix of peppers (paprika, cayenne, black pepper) and garlic powder.

Can you buy Cajun spice mix? ›

We recommend buying Cajun Spice Mix in our attractive Spice Tin. Not only is it recyclable and reusable (you can refill it with our Cajun spice pouch!) but most importantly, it's resealable. This ensures that your spice mix remains fresher and tastes better for far longer.

Is Cajun seasoning different from Old Bay? ›

In a word: No. While Cajun seasoning comes in many varieties, Old Bay is a specific brand, though you can make our Old Bay copycat recipe at home. Most Cajun seasoning blends are spicier than Old Bay, and Old Bay contains ingredients like bay leaf, celery salt, and mustard that aren't usually in Cajun spice blends.

What's the difference between Cajun and Creole seasoning? ›

Popular Cajun seasonings like Tony Chachere's and Slap Ya Mama get heat from red pepper, with black pepper, salt, and garlic powder in the mix to enhance the flavor of food. Creole seasoning rounds out spicy red pepper with herbs like thyme, oregano, basil, and bay leaf.

Can Old Bay be used as Cajun seasoning? ›

In terms of regionally-affiliated flavors, Old Bay and Cajun seasoning are two of the most prominent in the U.S.; while Cajun seasoning is rooted in Louisiana, seafood favorite Old Bay comes from Maryland (via Mashed). Old Bay and Cajun seasoning do have differences, but in many cases they can be used interchangeably.

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