Cajun Spice Mix is really quite simple to make, and it makes a world of difference in how your Cajun food tastes. If you’re looking for a way to elevate the food you are cooking, look no further than the ingredients you’re using to make them.
Why You’ll Love This Spectacular Spice Blend
- Full Control Over Flavor . Adjust the heat, salt, and smokiness to suit your taste perfectly.
- No Additives or Fillers . Unlike many store-bought blends, homemade seasoning is pure spice. No anti-caking agents or preservatives.
- Budget-Friendly . Making your own blend costs far less than specialty Cajun seasoning bottles.
- Perfectly Balanced Heat . You decide how bold, mild, smoky, or peppery your Cajun blend will be.
Believe me, I know that store-bought spice mixes are easier, but in the world of cooking easier doesn’t necessarily mean better. Convenient, yes, but not nearly as flavorful as making it yourself. This Homemade Cajun Spice Mix is easier to make than you think and will really add some kick to your next Cajun dish!
One of the best things about this Homemade Cajun Spice Mix recipe is that you’re likely to have all of the ingredients already in your spice cabinet. Even if you don’t, they’re all quite common ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery store.
And since you’ll be choosing all of the ingredients yourself, there’s no need to question the quality or source of the ingredients in your Cajun spice mix.
Making your own Homemade Cajun Spice Mix may sound like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite simple. You simply measure all of the ingredients out, mix them together and run them briefly through a spice or coffee grinder. That’s it.
What Is Cajun Spice Similar To?
If you’re familiar with store bought Cajun blends, I would compare this to Old Bay, Slap Ya Mama, or Tony Chachere’s. This blend, in my opinion, tastes way better.
Is Cajun Spice Really Spicy?
If you know me, you know I love things spicy. So, to me, this Cajun seasoning isn’t spicy at all. The only components in the blend that add heat are the cayenne and the black pepper. However, those are balanced well by the other spices.
What Is Cajun Seasoning Made Of?
While making this spice blend does require you to have several spices on hand, most of them are spice rack staples. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 tablespoon Dried Parsley - Adds a mild, herbaceous note and helps round out the blend with a touch of freshness. Parsley also provides subtle color and balances the heat from the spices.
- 1 tablespoon Dried Onions - Contributes savory depth and natural sweetness. Dried onions help build flavor and give the seasoning a fuller, more complex profile.
- 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika - Provides rich color, smoky aroma, and a slightly sweet undertone. This is the backbone of the spice mix, adding warmth and that classic Cajun smokiness.
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano - Introduces earthy, slightly minty notes that complement the smokiness and tie the blend to traditional Louisiana flavors.
- 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme - Offers a warm, woodsy flavor that enhances the savory profile. Thyme is essential in Cajun and Creole cooking, adding aromatic complexity.
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper - Supplies heat and boldness. Cayenne is responsible for the spicy kick characteristic of Cajun seasoning, and you can adjust it to make the blend milder or hotter.
- 1 teaspoon Dried Garlic - Adds robust savory flavor and reinforces the depth of the mix. Garlic powder helps balance the herbs and spices with a punch of umami.
- 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper - Contributes subtle heat and sharpness, enhancing the overall warmth and rounding out the spice blend.
- 1 teaspoon Salt - Enhances all the other flavors and helps create a well-balanced seasoning. Salt ties the ingredients together and brings out the natural savoriness of the mix.
How To Make Cajun Spice
Making this Cajun spice is so incredibly easy. It only takes ONE step to create a flavorful seasoning to keep in your spice rack.
- Mix together all ingredients for the spice mix and run them briefly through a spice or coffee grinder.
Tips And Tricks
Crafting your own Cajun seasoning at home is simple, but these tips will help you create a perfectly balanced, aromatic blend that enhances everything from meats to veggies.
- Use fresh, high-quality spices. The fresher the spices, the more vibrant and punchy your Cajun blend will taste.
- Adjust the heat level to preference. Add more cayenne for a spicy blend or reduce it for a mild version. Customizing heat is one of the biggest perks of homemade seasoning.
- Balance smokiness and sweetness. Smoked paprika adds depth, while sweet paprika brings color and mild sweetness; using both creates a well-rounded flavor.
Variations
Cajun seasoning is incredibly versatile, and small adjustments can transform its flavor profile—whether you prefer it bold and spicy, smoky and rich, or mild and herb-forward. These variations let you tailor the blend to any dish or dietary need.
- Salt-Free Cajun Blend -Omit the salt entirely for a low-sodium option that lets you control the seasoning level in individual recipes.
- Herb-Forward Cajun Blend - Increase oregano and thyme to 1 teaspoon each to boost earthy, savory notes. It’sgreat for chicken and vegetables.
- Sweet Cajun Blend - Add ½ teaspoon brown sugar or coconut sugar for a blend that works beautifully with grilled shrimp or pork.
Dishes To Use This Spice Blend In
Looking for some awesome dishes to use this Cajun Spice Mix in? Check out my Instant Pot Cajun Dirty Rice recipe! It’s a classic Cajun side dish that’s elevated with Homemade Cajun Spice Mix.
Another great dish to try your freshly made Homemade Cajun Spice Mix is my Instant Pot Keto Spicy Pork Stew with Spinach . It’s quick, easy, and low carb!
Another great place to use this spice mix is my Cajun Shrimp and Sausage !
How Long Does It Last?
This recipe only makes 4 tablespoons of spice blend, so the odds of it going bad before you use it all are pretty slim. In fact, I like to suggest doubling or tripling the recipe so you can keep some in your pantry for nights when you don’t feel like grinding spices.
For the best, most robust flavors, I would suggest using this Cajun Spice Mix within a year of making it.
More Homemade Spice Blends
- Egyptian Dukkah
- Lebanese 7 Spice
- Cajun Spice Mix
- Sambhar Masala
- Kafta Kabab Spice Mix
- Ras Al Hanout Spice
- Shawarma Spice Mix
- Dry Sesame Garlic Chutney
- Ethiopian Berbere
- Maharash Trian Goda Masala
- Garama Masala
- Punjabi Garam Masala
- Apple Pie Spice
So next time you go to make some dirty rice, Cajun chicken, gumbo, or jambalaya, put away that store bought Cajun seasoning mix and make your own Homemade Cajun Spice Mix . It will make a world of difference in how your Cajun recipes taste and your family will think you’ve ordered Cajun food from an authentic Cajun restaurant.
Cajun Spice Mix | Better Than Store Bought Cajun Seasoning
Equipment
- Coffee Grinder
- OVAL MEASURING SPOONS
Ingredients
- ▢ 1 tablespoon Dried Parsley
- ▢ 1 tablespoon dried onions
- ▢ 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Dried Garlic
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
Instructions
- Mix together all ingredients for the spice mix and run them briefly through a spice or coffee grinder. This makes 4 tablespoons of mix.
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Cajun Spice Mix | Better Than Store Bought Cajun Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Dried Parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried onions
- 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dried Garlic
- 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
Instructions
- Mix together all ingredients for the spice mix and run them briefly through a spice or coffee grinder. This makes 4 tablespoons of mix.
Cajun Spice Mix | Better Than Store Bought Cajun Seasoning https://twosleevers.com/homemade-cajun-spice-mix/
If you like dal, you’re going to love this Langar Ki Dal, which is the creamiest, most flavorful way to combine and cook two dals in your Instant pot!
Instant Pot Langar Ki Dal | Indian Vegetarian Lentils
What is Langar?
Langar is a Punjabi word for the community kitchen or community meal that is made and served by volunteers at the Gurudwara (temple) every Sunday, and is served free to all visitors, no matter who you are.
No one cares about your religion, your gender, your ethnicity, or anything else. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the meal. It tends to be vegetarian, and it is always absolutely delicious.
Gurudwara’s also have a sweet that make from flour, ghee and sugar called Kadha Prashad, and let’s be honest, that’s pretty much the only reason my brother and I went to the Gurudwara with my Punjabi mother.
In our defense, we were little and we also had no idea what the priest was saying in Punjabi, so the “dessert” was the highlight of the whole service for us.
I once asked if we could have seconds, and if looks could kill, both my brother and I would have been burned to a cinder when my very indignant mother and grandmother stared at us. It’s not supposed to be about the taste, it’s supposed to be a religious token.
But then they shouldn’t make it that delicious if you ask me.
But that’s okay. I learned to make it myself so now I can have all the Prashad my hips will permit me to eat. So there.
For more info on how to cook beans and lentils in your pressure cooker, check out my guide on How to Cook Beans in the Instant Pot !
Looking for more delicious dal recipes? Check out my Pressure Cooker Rice and Dal . It’s a great Indian comfort food that’s easier to make than you’ll believe!
Another great dal dish is my Instant Pot Moong Dal Soup . It’s a super delicious traditional Indian soup that’s made easily in your Instant pot!
If you’re in the mood for a delicious Indian curry, try this Chicken curry soup recipe .
You can even learn how to make a full Indian meal fast with this video!
Anyway, I digress. This very simple but creamy, hearty, rib-sticking Langar Ki Dal is made by combining two different types of dals. Once you buy the Urad Dal and the Chana Dal , you can make my Dal Makhani as well as the Chana Dal Fry
The Recipe steps for this Langar Ki Dal are:
- Cook dals together for 30 mins at high pressure
- Cook onions, ginger, garlic and tomatoes with spices
- Mix with dal
Want moreamazingIndian Instant Pot recipes?
Langar Ki Dal
Equipment
- INSTANT POT DUO 6 QUART
- Measuring Cups
- OVAL MEASURING SPOONS
Ingredients
Pressure cook
- ▢ 1 cup ( 200 g ) whole black urad dal
- ▢ 1/2 cup ( 118.29 g ) chana dal
- ▢ 5 cups ( 1.25 kg ) Water
- ▢ 1 tsp ( 1 tsp ) Kosher Salt
- ▢ 1 tsp ( 1 tsp ) Turmeric
Cook separately
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ( 1 tablespoon ) Ghee , (can substitute coconut oil, or vegetable oil)
- ▢ 1 ( 1 ) Onion , chopped
- ▢ 2 ( 2 ) Tomatoes , chopped
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ( 1 tablespoon ) Minced Ginger , minced
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ( 1 tablespoon ) Garlic , minced
- ▢ 1/2 tsp ( 0.5 tsp ) Cumin seeds
- ▢ 1/2 tsp ( 0.5 tsp ) Turmeric
- ▢ 1/2-1 tsp ( 0.5 tsp ) Cayenne Pepper
- ▢ 1 tsp ( 1 tsp ) Kosher Salt
- ▢ 1/4 cup ( 62.5 g ) Water
Instructions
- Combine the Urad and chana Dals with water, salt and turmeric, and cook under High Pressure for 30 minutes. You can use the BEAN setting on your Instant Pot for this.
- Meanwhile, heat a nonstick pan on your stove, and when that’s hot, add the ghee. When the ghee is hot and shimmering, add the chopped onion and sauté for 30 seconds. Add minced ginger and minced garlic and cook these aromatics for 5 minutes, until the edges of the onion start to brown slightly.
- Add tomato and spices and mix well. Add water and mix again.
- Crush the tomatoes with the back of your spoon as they cook. Set aside until the dals are cooked.
- Once the dals are cooked, allow the pressure cooker to release pressure naturally for 10 minutes and release any remaining pressure.
- Using your spoon, crush the dals well to get a creamier texture, leaving some whole dal in the mix.
- Pour in the tomato and onion mixture and mix well before serving.
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