Spices and Herbs for Homemade Cajun Seasoning

1. Paprika

Paprika is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers. It is not spicy and contributes a sweet and slightly smoky taste with its subtle fruity and peppery hints to the seasoning. It also balances the heat from cayenne pepper and other spices. 

Visually, the pepper has a rich, warm red color. This vibrant hue adds color to dishes and makes them more appetizing. You can use both regular paprika and smoked paprika for your Cajun seasoning, but if you do not have both, you can substitute it with red chili powder or flakes.

2. Kosher Salt

Cajun seasoning often has kosher salt, which is different from regular table salt. The kosher salt in Cajun seasoning enhances the taste and improves the texture of dishes. 

Kosher salt has a milder, cleaner flavor than table salt, which prevents your Cajun dishes from becoming bitter and overpoweringly salty. This is especially important when dealing with a boldly flavored spice blend. 

Texturally, kosher salt draws out less moisture than other salts, which allows a dish to have a better mouthfeel. It also enhances the formation of a flavorful crust on meat and seafood when cooking at high temperatures. 

3. Garlic Powder

Garlic powder is an irreplaceable ingredient in Cajun seasoning. It has a concentrated flavor and aroma of fresh garlic, which complements the spicy and herby notes of cayenne pepper and oregano.

It is umami and adds depth and roundness to the flavor of the Cajun seasoning. Additionally, handling garlic powder is much easier than fresh garlic. It remains stable and does not burn at high temperatures.

The powder also releases flavor throughout the cooking process, making it ideal for Cajun dishes like blackened fish or spicy gumbos.

4. Onion Powder

Like garlic powder, onion powder is a key component of Cajun seasoning. Onion powder has the concentrated sweetness of fresh onions and adds pungency and bite to the Cajun seasoning. It also complements the spicier elements of the seasoning, like cayenne pepper and black pepper. 

Additionally, onion powder has traces of glutamates, which gives the seasoning a burst of umaminess. This elusive flavor profile invigorates the palate and makes dishes with the seasoning mouth-watering.

While subtle, onion powder also lends an earthy touch that complements herbs like thyme and oregano. You could also use onion flakes or salt in place of the pwoder in the seasoning.

5. Ground Black Pepper

Black pepper is a kitchen staple and is used as a table seasoning. It has distinct, woody, and slightly floral notes with a sharp, piquant bite. These aromas add a subtle warmth and depth to the overall flavor of the Cajun seasoning and balance other spices to prevent the blend from becoming one-dimensional.

Apart from the aroma, black pepper is well known for its characteristic heat. The pepper has a little kick and creates a slight tingling or ”zingy” sensation in the mouth that whets the appetite. You can always replace black pepper with Sichuan peppercorns if you do not have it. 

6. Ground White Pepper

White and black pepper come from the same berry of the piper nigrum pepper vine. However, black peppercorns are an over-ripened berry that causes the skin to wrinkle, while white peppercorns do not have skin as they are removed before the drying process.

Unlike black pepper, white pepper delivers a milder heat that builds gradually. It has a clean and smooth finish and does not leave a tingling spiciness on the tongue. White pepper is ideal for those who want a more delicate heat in their Cajun dishes.

7. Dried Oregano

Dried oregano is often described as possessing a strong, earthy, herbal aroma and a slightly bitter-sweet and pungent flavor. This flavor comes from earthy/musty, green, hay, and minty notes of the oregano and imparts a slightly astringent mouthfeel. 

The unique flavor and mouthfeel blend beautifully with the other spices in the mix and whets the appetite. Unlike some spices that lose their potency over time, oregano retains its aroma well, contributing to the overall freshness of the Cajun blend.

There are many substitutes for dried oregano, like dried dill, marjoram, parsley, and sage.

8. Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a moderately hot chili pepper of the capsicum annuum family. This pepper is more than just an ingredient in the Cajun seasoning. It is an essential component that contributes to the seasoning’s signature kick and bold personality.

The spice can be a mild or full-blown inferno, depending on the amount used. While the pepper does a stellar job of adding spice to the seasoning, that is not its only purpose.

It has fruity and earthy notes that add complexity and nuance to the overall flavor. You can use flakes or powder. The former releases its spice slowly, while the latter provides instantaneous heat.

9. Thyme

Like how every great movie has a beloved side character that allows the lead to shine in a charming light, thyme plays a crucial role in elevating the other essential spices and creating overall harmony.

The warm earthiness of thyme complements the spiciness of cayenne pepper and the sweetness of paprika and adds dimensions to the spice blend.

When the Cajun seasoning is used in cooking, the high temperature causes the herb to release a warm, inviting aroma with hints of lemon and earthiness that blend with the other spices in the seasoning, creating a more balanced and cohesive taste.

Optional Spices in Cajun Seasoning

As mentioned above, not every Cajun seasoning has the same flavor and aroma because of the different ingredients. The first nine ingredients are indispensable in a Cajun seasoning, but some optional additions add unique twists and subtle nuances to your Cajun blend.

• Cumin: Offers a warm, earthy, and slightly smoky flavor with a touch of heat. It pairs well with cayenne pepper.
• Ghost pepper powder: A tiny pinch of ghost pepper powder is insanely hot and incredibly spicy, perfect for the adventurous. Use with caution!
• Mustard powder: Offers a tangy, pungent kick that cuts through the richness of other spices. Adds a unique twist to seafood dishes and blackened creations.
• Basil: Adds a bright, peppery, and refreshing touch with a slightly anise-like note that is beautiful in Cajun dishes.
• Celery Seeds: Enhances the savoriness of the spice blend with a subtle celery-like flavor.
• Dried/Ground mushrooms: Ground mushrooms like porcini or shiitake add a rich, earthy depth and umami boost.
• Red Pepper Flakes: These add another layer of spice and a subtle smokiness.

Recipe for Cajun Seasoning

This homemade Cajun seasoning is spicy, smoky, and will add tons of flavor to any dish.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 ¼ teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 ¼ teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (Optional)

Directions

1. Gather all ingredients.
2. Stir together paprika, salt, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes in a bowl until evenly blended
3. Store spice mix in an airtight container, away from sunlight to retain its potency longer.
4. You can control the heat by either adding more or less cayenne pepper.