What Ingredients are in Cajun Spices?

Cajun spices consist of a mixture of several different types of spices combined together to make one spice. These types of spices range from dried herbs to spicy hot spices. When you know what ingredients are in Cajun spices you can make your own combination.

When making your own Cajun spice, you may find that it never turns out the same way twice. To make Cajun spices, combine a few of the most popular Cajun spices to blend into a Cajun spice. Some popular Cajun spices include: thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, paprika and garlic powder. You can use all these ingredients, or a combination, to create a Cajun spice.

Thyme:
As a dried herb, thyme adds a subtle enrichment to the dish. When blended with other spices, thyme becomes overpowered, but its flavor still brings a richer taste to the food. It is popularly used in meats stews, which are common dishes in Cajun cooking.

Oregano:
This seasoning is also a dried herb, which adds to the taste of many Cajun dishes. Dried oregano provides a potent and slightly bitter taste. However, when combined with other spices in Cajun cooking, it can immensely add to the taste of the meal.

Cayenne Pepper:
Originating from the dried hot chili pepper, cayenne pepper adds a very hot and spicy flavor to the food. When cooking with hot cayenne pepper seasoning, do not sniff it, because it burns when it enters the nasal cavities.

Paprika:
Also originating from bell peppers, paprika is a milder form of cayenne pepper. It works to add flavor as well as color to a variety of Cajun dishes. Though typically a milder spice, paprika can range from mild to hot.

Garlic Powder:
Though it cannot take the place of fresh garlic in many cases, garlic powder serves a purpose. Garlic powder comes from dehydrated garlic gloves, is and ground down into a powder form. This powder is best used when wanting to add a hint of garlic to the meal, because fresh garlic can quickly become overpowering.