Cajun or Creole seasoning can add a special flavor to a variety of dishes. It has a savory, slightly spicy taste, and the garlic and onion powders help to make the most out of meats, vegetables, and broths. We've got a recipe so you can learn how to make Cajun seasoning, as well as some variations to it that you can try, and dishes to use it in. Check it out!
How To Make Cajun Seasoning
It serves as a sort of salt seasoning while hitting your sweet and spicy cravings. To make Cajun seasoning, you need these select spices:
Ingredients:
- ½ cup kosher salt
- A third of a cup cayenne pepper
- A third of a cup garlic powder
- A third of a cup Hungarian paprika
- 3 tablespoons onion powder
- 3 tablespoons black pepper
- 3 tablespoons dried oregano
- 3 tablespoons dried sage
- 3 tablespoons dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions:
- Add all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir thoroughly until everything is well blended together.
- Give the mixture a light taste to make sure it's not too salty, spicy or bland. Add salt, cayenne pepper or onion, and garlic powder depending on what the mixture needs.
- Pour into a bowl and wrap with plastic wrap.
Variations To Cajun Seasoning
Once you've gotten your basic recipe down, you can branch out to spice up your cajun spices even more. Some variations include:
Smoked Cajun
By substituting Hungarian paprika for smoked paprika, you can create a smoked cajun seasoning that adds some spice and intense flavor. It is best used on barbecued foods, such as a rack of ribs.
Super Spicy Cajun
Cayenne pepper is the source of the heat in cajun seasoning, but it's a rather mild spice compared to some peppers -- if you add crushed ancho chilis, chipotles, Aleppo, or Piri Piri peppers alongside the cayenne, you can add some intense heat to any dish you choose to use the seasoning on.
Foods To Try Cajun Seasoning With
The unique flavors that cajun seasoning brings will make you want to try it on everything. Cajun is a popular choice in barbecued foods and certain meats, as well as various vegetables and snacks. A few recommend dishes to try it on include:
Sweet Potato Fries
Cut sweet potatoes into wedges, toss them cooking oil and dust them with cajun seasoning. Bake them in an oven for a crispy, sweet potato treat that packs some seriously flavorful heat!
Popcorn
Who needs loads of generic butter and salt on popcorn? After popping a bag of plain popcorn, toss the popcorn in a nice dose of cajun seasoning for an awesome late-night snack. Adding a tablespoon of melted butter will allow the seasoning to stick to the popcorn more easily.
Chicken
You'll find the most use of Cajun seasoning when cooking chicken -- a baked chicken breast that's seasoned with cajun in lieu of basic salt and pepper will yield a juicy and flavorful chicken dish. Add some lemon juice for some acidity that complements the meat and seasonings rather than well.