When you’re trying to make a quick dinner for the week, basic spice blends are a great help. These spice blends can make boring vegetables and meats more appealing and help you get out of your cooking rut. I was asked to create a simple collection of spice blends. Having lived in south Louisiana for 16 years, I knew Homemade Cajun Seasoning would be a good choice. This spice blend adds deep flavour to any dish it is added. It’s spicy, smoky and full of savoury herbs. Continue reading to discover how versatile this seasoning mix is.
HOW TO USE CAJUN SPORTING
Cajun seasoning can be used in many different ways! This seasoning mix can be sprinkled on:
- Grilled, baked, or pan-seared chicken or seafood
- Roasted vegetables and potatoes
- Baked chicken wings
- Chicken or potato salads
- Oven Fries
- Pasta
- Soup
- beans
- dips (sour cream-based dips, bean dips, or cheese sauces)
STORE-BOUGHT VS. HOMEMADE CAJUN SEASONING
When is it better to mix your spice than buy a pre-mixed one from the store? If you aren’t using it often (less than 2 to 3 times per month), I wouldn’t recommend buying a pre-mixed bottle. Mixing it yourself is a better option since you can reuse the rest. It’s easier to buy a pre-mixed mix if it’s something you use regularly.
SALT CONTENT
Another important thing to look at is the salt content when comparing Cajun Seasoning purchased at a store and homemade. Cajun seasonings purchased in stores can contain high amounts of salt. These seasonings are more of a seasoning salt that I use to season food before or after cooking. This homemade blend is lower in sodium so I can use it to season food throughout the cooking process without over-salting. My blend contains just enough salt to make the flavours shine.
IS CAJUN SEASONING SPICY?
It used to be, but it doesn’t have to! You can adjust the heat by making your Cajun Seasoning from scratch. You can adjust the cayenne pepper to make it spicy or mild or vice versa.
HOMEMADE CAJUN SEASONING
Cajun Seasoning can spice up meats, vegetables, beans, pasta and other foods.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tsp smoked paprika ($0.20)
- 1 tsp oregano ($0.10)
- 1 teaspoon thyme ($0.10)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder ($0.05).
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder ($0.05).
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper ($0.02)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper ($0.02)
- 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix all ingredients and immediately use them to season your food. You can also store the mixture in an airtight container away from direct sunlight.
NOTES
This seasoning is mildly spicy. You can adjust the heat by adding or removing cayenne pepper.
NUTRITION
Serving: 2 Tbsp Calories 7.75 kcal Carbohydrates 1.65 g Protein 0.25 g Fat 0.1 g sodium: 415.9 mg Fiber 0.35 g