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Cajun Spice

Advice for cooking with Cajun spice

Browse for recipes featuring Cajun spice

Description

There are many Cajun seasoning blends on the market today, all with their own distinct characteristics. Most are boldly flavored and sassy and representative of Cajun cooking in general. A Cajun seasoning blend might include garlic, onion, cayenne pepper, black pepper, dry mustard, paprika, thyme, cumin and/or celery seed.

Uses

Cajun seasoning is used heavily in gumbo, jambalaya and blackened fish dishes, as well as for spicing up boiled shrimp and crawfish, French fries and sauces.

Origins

Today's Cajuns are descendents of French-Canadian settlers who had taken up residence in the Louisiana bayous, brought their own flavors to the party. Original masters of the one-pot meal, these locals created a cuisine all their own based on native herbs, game, and vegetables. Cajun cooking, a combination of French and Southern cuisines, is robust, country-style cookery that uses a dark roux and plenty of animal (usually pork) fat.

Color

Brownish Red

Flavor & Aroma

Composed of many different spices, Cajun spice is a complex blend of spicy, earthy, pungent, and grassy.

Sensory Profile

Cajun spice characterizes the bold flavors of Cajun cooking.

See our complete Cajun and Creole Recipe Collection.

Comments

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THEDAD

Jul. 28, 2009 10:43 am

as a true cajun i don't use anything marked "cajun seasoning", i do use lots of spices but they vary depending on what i'm cooking. i was taught ways to make a good meal out of cheap ingredients with the use of spices and frankly i've grown very weary of folks sprinkling red pepper on a dish and calling it "cajun". the term spicy to us doesn't mean hot, it simply means we use lots of varied spices.

betty o

Oct. 2, 2009 7:47 am

I agree with "THEDAD", many versions of "cajun" is not an original recipe. I too came from a Southern cajun family and fortunately remember watching family members prepare meals and were left with a legacy of delicious foods I delightfully enjoy.

janehurley

Oct. 8, 2009 1:58 pm

very helpful

mbela

Oct. 31, 2009 1:43 pm

Great finding out how to make "cajun chicken" after I had to give up searching the Norwegian web.

Hawk1

Apr. 1, 2010 9:40 am

Can anyone share with me a good dry cajun spice recipe to coat deep fried chicken wings with?

R'NO

Apr. 26, 2010 10:29 am

Try Slap Ya MaMa.com i use it on every thing

holidaywindows@gmail.com

May 10, 2010 8:43 am

I was taught to cook cajun by cajuns in east Texas around Lake Livingston, but being a Texan and a cook who uses spices, I thoroughly agree with THEDAD. For some reason people assume spicy means hot,( lots of peppers). spicy is pungent flavors from the spices used, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, to name a few are pungent and yes all 3 are also hot. My spice cabinet looks like that in the grocery store and very few are blends.

S. Dorsey

Jun. 12, 2010 8:49 am

This was very helpful and I'll be using this article, and it's comments, in the near future, I'm sure.

mway

Jun. 30, 2010 5:33 am

Does anyone have their own mix of "cajun" spices that they are willing to share?? I have tried some prepared Cajun blends and find them way too salty or lacking in flavor.

john

Oct. 23, 2010 9:16 am

since THEDAD is the genuine article, do you have a recipe for making the actual canjun spice that could be be added to recipes that would give me the amount of spiciness I want for each dish?

Hez

Oct. 24, 2010 3:32 pm

I was about to say the same thing as John. I prefer to add individual spices to food - but would greatly appreciate some guidance as to what spices to add to what dish; and in what quantities. I'd be most grateful :)

L'e Chef

Jan. 16, 2011 10:48 am

I spent alot of time down in LA and agree with THEDAD. I am also a Southern Gal that already cooked with alot of spices but I travel the states ALOT and have found if you ask for a cajun dish anywhere you will be over powered with not spicy but HOT peppers. I don't understand where they come up with the idea that it's supposed to be so hot it will burn the skin off your tongue. They've obviously never had a REAL Cajun meal... ;)

MILLIE WILSON

Feb. 18, 2011 2:17 pm

Emeril's ESSENCE Creole Seasoning (also referred to as Bayou Blast): 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika 2 tablespoons salt 2 tablespoons garlic powder 1 tablespoon black pepper 1 tablespoon onion powder 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon dried oregano 1 tablespoon dried thyme Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Yield: 2/3 cup Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch

kath.temp

Mar. 4, 2011 7:11 am

Thank-you for the info, I am always a little leery of using seasoning packages and often make my own. I now have the basics for making my own Cajun spice, thank-you again.

sapphireblue

Mar. 15, 2011 2:28 pm

Thank you, Millie!

triedntrue

Apr. 23, 2011 12:23 pm

2 teaspoons salt 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons paprika 1 teaspoons ground black pepper 1 teaspoons ground white pepper 1 teaspoon celery salt 1 teaspoon ground cumin 2 teaspoons onion powder 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper 2-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano 2-1/2 teaspoons dried thyme Optional- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger or 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (Cut pepper for milder batch..black and white pepper have a slower burn than cayenne use accordingly)

russnronnee

May 21, 2011 7:25 pm

What everyone doesn't realize is that most folks want to be associated with Cajun Cooking cause they know how great the flavor is. But most of it is all talk. Most Cajun recipes are handed down from generation to generation and each adds it's own ingredient to the recipe. Thats why most Cajuns don;t really know all of the ingredients or won't tell.

Harold

Jun. 8, 2011 8:09 pm

I'm a Yankee, but have lived in the South most of my life and have learned to savor the complex blends of many spices associated with "cajun food." Each dish needs to be treated differently, so oysters are spiced according to how they are cooked. Same for gator, shrimp, pork, beef and beans. They ain't no one size fits all cajun spice. Try one thing, if it doesn't work don't try it again. Tweek.

hnhmac

Feb. 15, 2012 5:50 pm

The best cajun seasoning i have ever had, is from http://www.beststopinscott.com/ it is really spicy and makes everything you use it on taste so good. you don't need much but if you want more spice you add a little more.

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