If you are familiar with Cajun and Creole seasoning blends, you must also be acquainted with our topic leader. So, let’s get to know everything about blackened seasoning and its ingredients.
Blackened seasoning, also known as Blackening seasoning, is a piquant, traditional Southern American blend that originated in New Orleans. It is a dry, powdered blend that typically comes together with spices and herbs such as:
Most recipes include salt, but you can also find salt-free options. This blend occasionally contains additional ingredients like dried basil, dry mustard, etc. So, keep reading to be enlightened about the interesting facts we have to share about this flavorful blend!
What Is Blackened Seasoning?
Blackened seasoning is basically a combination of dried and powdered spices and herbs. It is a prominent seasoning blend in Southern cuisine, which is also considered a close cousin of Cajun and Creole seasoning blends.
This versatile mixture is usually one of the most piquant among the robust seasoning blends, offering a spicy, smoky, and zesty kick to your dishes. It is commonly used to rub chicken, fish, or steak. And this is often utilized with Southern’s popular cooking technique, “blackening,” which originated thirty years ago by a chef named Paul Prudhomme at K-Paul’s in New Orleans.
Blackened seasoning doesn’t necessarily stick to a standard recipe since we can see slight changes in each formula that comes under different brand names and chefs. However, a set of common ingredients often show up in almost every recipe where paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder hold the bulk of this blend.
This is widely available in the store as premade options, and you can also make it at home using a few simple ingredients. Even though our topic leader is defined for meat and seafood, you can also add this, like most other seasonings blends, to spice up certain soups, ground meat mixtures, stews, and even sprinkle it on roasted vegetables!
Spices In Blackened Seasoning
Spices used in this seasoning blend are the major components that do the real magic, turning this mixture into a robust addition to your dishes.
01- Paprika
As aforementioned, the bulk of this mix calls for paprika, mainly for its beautiful, vibrant red hue and the depth of flavor it offers. In most recipes, we see either regular paprika or smoked paprika is used more than hot paprika since the hot version would make our topic leader too hot to handle.
This ingredient goes well with the majority of the elements used, complementing meat, fish, other seafood, or whatever calls for the blend. Some cooks even use a combination of regular paprika and smoked paprika for a different dimension of flavor.
02- Garlic Powder
Most recipes contain garlic powder, while some versions have granulated garlic. However, in general, garlic is an essential ingredient in the mix as it gives most of its pungency with strong, aromatic, and intense garlicky notes. This ingredient is undoubtedly a super flavor backup for richer and more flavorful dishes.
03- Onion Powder
Working more likely garlic powder, onion powder, too, plays a significant tasting role in blackened seasoning teaming up with garlic.
This ingredient is piquant and holds a strong onion flavor with an excellent umami punch. Together with garlic, onion powder beautifully balances the spiciness with its savory notes.
04- Cayenne Pepper
This guy is responsible for that sizzling hot touch you usually get from our topic leader! Cayenne pepper also gives some color to the blend, making great friends with ingredients like paprika, black pepper, oregano, and thyme.
You can essentially increase or decrease the hat factor of your recipe by adjusting the amount of cayenne pepper if you are making this blend at home.
05- Black Pepper
Ground black pepper does a great job by providing a distinctive peppery, woody, piney, and earthy undertone to this blend. It is another staple that pairs well with salt, garlic powder, and onion powder to complement other seafood.
Herbs In Blackened Seasoning
01- Dried Oregano
This herb is considered a staple in the mix, appearing in almost every recipe. Dried oregano adds a unique definition to this mix with its intensely aromatic and pungent flavor profile that has slightly bitter, earthy, and minty undertones. This ingredient pairs well with black pepper, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, etc., in the blend.
02- Dried Thyme
Thyme is the next main herb featured in blackened seasoning, teaming up with dried oregano. This herb hits a different flavor note with its subtle taste elements. The complex citrus and minty laced, earthy, woodsy flavor of dried thyme pairs well with most spices and collectively complement the richness of meat or seafood.
Southern food derives its strength from many cultures. It’s a melding of food cultures from Native Americans, enslaved African-Americans, and Europeans.
Marcie Cohen Ferris
Other Blackened Seasoning Ingredients
Most blackened seasoning recipes call for salt, dry mustard, and dried basil in addition to the main elements discussed on top. Moreover, most commercial preparations might include additional ingredients such as:
- Soybean oil
- Rice concentrate
- Sugar
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Anti-caking agents
- Other preservatives, flavor, and color additives
Is Blackened Seasoning Spicy?
To begin with, blackened seasoning is actually known for its robust yet appealing spiciness. The mixture itself is not overwhelmingly spicy, but it has the right amount of spiciness and hotness to complement any dish that calls for it. However, when you make this blend at home, you have the control to adjust the spiciness according to your preference.
Are Store-Bought Blackened Seasoning Options Gluten-Free?
This actually depends on what brand you purchase. Most blackened seasoning options show up as gluten-free formulae, while some options could contain gluten-related ingredients such as wheat concentrate. Therefore, the best thing is to check the list of ingredients before buying.
Does Blackened Seasoning Contain MSG?
While a majority of homemade recipes do not use MSG, some premade options might include MSG for flavor enhancement purposes. So, we suggest you read the ingredients list on the label before purchasing.
Is Blackened Seasoning Vegan-Friendly?
Blackened seasoning is typically a combination of spices, herbs, and salt. Thus, we did not originally find any animal derivatives in this blend. But if you are extremely concerned, you can always check the ingredients when you buy any premade options.
A Touch Of Spiciness With A Hint Of Smoky Pungency Is The Real Punch That Blackened Seasoning Is About!
Blackened seasoning is a flavor-packed combination of zestful ingredients like paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, oregano, etc., that will elevate your chicken, fish, salmon, or shrimp dish to a whole new level. This flavor companion is a staple in your pantry if you love experimenting with spicy foods.
