Cajun refers to the ethnic people living in Louisiana who became famous for their unique cooking. Their cooking style is greatly varied from grilling, boiling, and deep frying. Like any other authentic cuisine, Cajun dishes have their own signature ingredients to boast of. The Cajun's methods of cooking are also out of the ordinary, and chiefly make use of the popular Cajun seasoning.
Nowadays, people who have had a taste of Cajun dishes want to recreate the flavors they experienced. This is why a lot of Cajun mixes are out in the market today. Although there are plenty, it is hard to find the authentic Cajun seasoning taste. Most of the time the mixes use bay leaves, bell peppers, black peppers, celery, garlic, onion, parsley, sugarcane, and thyme. This popular mix of herbs and spices tend to go great with the Cajun dishes, which are mostly seafood based.
Cajun seasoning tastes great. In fact, some people even make their own version of Cajun seasoning. There are also Cajun seasonings that are available in pre-packaged sachets today. These are not as authentic or near similar if you made your own Cajun seasoning mix. It is typically a teaspoon for every pound of meat or anything that you are to cook. These multi purpose Cajun seasonings even go great with just vegetables or eggs.
Cajun seasoning is basically hot and spicy due to all the spices in it. Some recipes are even labelled as mild, hot, or extra hot, and some are not hot. This way, people with different tastes can enjoy the Cajun flavor without being worried about the spicy sensation in their mouth. If you like it a little less with your hot Cajun seasoning, it is best that you avoid the mixes where jalapenos are included in the ingredients.
To make your own authentic Cajun seasoning, here are the spices you will need: 1/3 cup kosher salt (if you're on a low sodium, diet you can eliminate the salt from the mix), 1/4 cup chili powder, 1/4 cup paprika, 1 to 2 tablespoons onion powder, 1 tablespoon crushed black pepper, 1 tablespoon each of oregano and basil, and if you want it spicy, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder. If the hotness of the mix is too weak, just add more of the pepper or better yet, use jalapenos rather than cayenne.
Salt can be eliminated from the mix. The reason is that some people avoid salt in their diet due to health reasons. If you are just about to taste your first Cajun recipe, be well prepared because some people tend to be sensitive to the hotness of the spices. Cajun mixes are supposed to give a strong flavor and aroma to a dish, as well as an appetizing hotness.
