The Flavors That Make Up Cajun Seasoning

Aromatic and addictive, like tasty Old Bay, Cajun seasoning is almost universal in its applicability. You can sprinkle it on French fries, mix it into a creamy Alfredo sauce, or even blitz it with salt to line the rim of a bloody Mary. It is spicy and savory with an herbaceous, earthy kick that brings depth to any dish. But what exact spices go into Cajun seasoning? After all, much like tea leaves, that reddish dappled bottle of seasoning can be impossible to decipher without a knowing palate (and an ingredients list). 

As it turns out, there is no one, official Cajun seasoning blend. Every family, restaurant, and company has their own unique blend. There are, however, a few key ingredients that tend to serve as the core of any Cajun seasoning blend. At its most basic level, Cajun seasoning almost always has black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Other popular additions include paprika (or smoked paprika), onion powder, white pepper, oregano, and thyme. You can also add salt if you'd like; otherwise, salt your dish separately to suit your tastes. The key to Cajun seasoning is its depth, smokiness, and spiciness. It is, essentially, a skeleton key to the world of Cajun dining, and finding the right combination can unlock the ability to make any number of Louisiana classics, from jambalaya to gumbo, and even a proper low country seafood boil.

To fully understand Cajun seasoning in all of its complexity and varieties, you must first know the history of Cajun culture (and cuisine). Cajun seasoning is so named after the Cajun people, who are descendants of Acadians. The Acadian people were French migrants who originally settled in Canada. However, many were exiled, and moved to the colony of Louisiana in the mid to late 18th century after England overtook Nova Scotia. These Acadian, now known as Cajun, settlers brought with them strong French cultural influence, which then fused with the natural resources and culture of the Louisiana colony, which also included the Creole and African cultures. These disparate cultures, paired with the presence of resources such as rice and seafood, combined to create a culinary landscape that is unique to Louisiana. 

Along with this cultural fusion came the spice blend we now know as Cajun seasoning. Flavors such as cayenne pepper came to Louisiana by way of French Guiana in South America. The seasoning also typically includes garlic, which has been popular in European cuisine for centuries. Another typical inclusion is paprika, a Spanish staple that was first discovered in central Mexico before becoming popular in Europe around the 15th century. These spices, along with other popular additions, such as oregano and thyme, which are both mediterranean in origin, illustrate just how uniquely global this spice mix, like the state of Louisiana itself, is. Its prominent use in seafood also signals its Acadian origins, as the Canadian Acadians tended to have a seafood rich diet, a habit carried over to the equally briny Louisiana.

Cajun seasoning is a delicious combination of various spices and herbs, all of which come together to form the perfect flavoring for many a meal. But what sets it apart from other, similar seasoning blends such as the Mid-Atlantic's iconic Old Bay seasoning? For one thing, Cajun seasoning focuses more on spice while other seafood seasonings like Old Bay tend to focus on adding saltiness. While Cajun seasoning may sometimes include salt, this is entirely optional and is outside of the core spices used. Primarily, Cajun seasoning adds smokiness, heat, and a deep, earthy flavor that can bring out the briny flavors of Louisiana's oysters, shrimp, and crawfish. 

Other seafood seasonings do include spices such as paprika; however, they also tend to include celery salt and have salt as a base ingredient. The addition of celery salt adds a freshness to these spice mixes, which is a bit of a green flavor that works well with, say, fresh crab. Old Bay also uses bay leaves and mustard, which diffuses the peppery taste of the blend. Essentially, Cajun seasonings are meant to pack a punch of spice, where as Old Bay, and other similar seasonings, tend to focus on blending various flavors. Of course, this is just a general distinction, as Cajun seasoning recipes do vary.