Blackening seasoning is a delicious spice mixture that can be used to add a unique and flavorful twist to any dish.
Whether you are grilling, sautéing, or baking, blackening seasoning is a versatile ingredient that can bring out the best in your food. Enjoy this easy-to-follow recipe for making your own blackening seasoning at home.
By following this simple recipe and tips, you can create a delicious and versatile seasoning blend that will impress your family and friends. Whether you are grilling steak, chicken, or vegetables, blackening seasoning is sure to become a staple ingredient in your kitchen.
Jump to:
- Why I love this recipe:
- 🧂 Homemade blackening seasoning ingredients
- 🥄 How to make blackened seasoning
- What is the culinary technique for blackening?
- How much blackened seasoning to use for a standard recipe:
- More Tips
- 🍽️ Simple ways to incorporate a blackening spice blend into easy recipes
- More homemade spice blends
- 📝 Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
- 👩🍳 Chef Tip
- 📄 Related Recipes
- Ingredients
- Blackening Seasoning
- 👩🏻🍳 Sarah Mock
- Comments
Why I love this recipe:
- Making your own blackening seasoning at home is an easy and cost-effective way to elevate the flavors of your meals.
- This easy blackening seasoning adds a unique and bold flavor to any dish it is added to. The combination of spices work together to create a delicious savory flavor profile.
- This blend of spices does not contain any artificial preservatives or additives that store-bought seasonings may contain. Additionally, some of the ingredients in blackening seasoning have antioxidant properties.
- Make this blend at home because it allows you to control the amount of species, pepper and salt that you use. Plus many of these spices and herbs can be found in your spice cabinet already!
🧂 Homemade blackening seasoning ingredients
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe.
To make just under 6 tablespoons of blackening seasoning, you will need:
- 3 tablespoons Paprika
- 1 tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
🥄 How to make blackened seasoning
Making your own blackening seasoning at home is quick and easy. Simply follow these steps:
- Combine all ingredients in a small dish.
- Whisk or stir until fully mixed.
- Use immediately or store in an airtight container or a spice jar with a lid in a dry pantry for up to six months.
What is the culinary technique for blackening?
Blackening is a cooking technique that involves searing meat or fish at high heat in a cast iron skillet coated with a spice mixture known as blackening seasoning. The high heat and dry heat of the skillet transform the spices into a crust, creating an intensely flavorful charred exterior while keeping the inside moist and tender.
Often associated with Creole cuisine from Louisiana but can be used on any type of protein such as chicken, steak, fish fillets or shrimp. Blacken foods are a popular method of cooking in many restaurants because it produces an eye-catching dish with bold flavors that are sure to satisfy any palate.
To achieve this technique, chefs typically use their own unique homemade spice blends. The protein (meat, fish or seafood) is then coated on both sides with the seasoning mix and placed onto the preheated skillet. Once the protein is in the pan, it is cooked at very high heat for a short amount of time.
During this process, smoke and sometimes flames may occur due to the high temperature. It’s important to keep windows open and turn on fans when cooking with this technique to avoid setting off smoke alarms.
How much blackened seasoning to use for a standard recipe:
As a general rule of thumb, I start with about 1 tablespoon of blackened seasoning per pound of meat, seafood or fish. You can always add more if needed, but it’s best to start with a smaller amount and adjust as necessary.
Remember that blackened seasoning can be quite spicy, so if you prefer milder flavors, you may want to use less. Adjust the amount of blackened seasoning blend to use depending on the quantity of food you are preparing and your personal taste preferences.
More Tips
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your homemade blackening seasoning:
- Adjust the spices to your taste: The great thing about homemade seasonings is that you can adjust them to your preferences. If you like a stronger flavor of one the dried herbs or spice more, feel free to adjust it accordingly.
- Write down any changes: Don’t forget to write down the changes you made to your recipe for future use so that you can recreate it again if necessary.
- Use smoked paprika instead of normal paprika: Using smoked paprika instead of regular paprika will give your seasoning an extra burst of flavor.
- Use quality spices: Using high-quality spices will result in a more flavorful and aromatic seasoning mixture than using cheaper ones would.
- Use the same amount as store-bought: Use your homemade blackening seasoning in the same amount as you would store-bought.
🍽️ Simple ways to incorporate a blackening spice blend into easy recipes
Spice up your meals with a touch of blackening seasoning! From crispy blackened chicken to delicious seafood and veggies, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy this flavorful technique.
- Blackened chicken: Coat chicken breasts in blackening seasoning, then cook them in a cast iron pan until they are charred on the outside and cooked through on the inside.
- Blackened shrimp: Toss raw shrimp in blackening seasoning, then grill or sauté them until they’re pink and slightly crispy.
- Blackened fish tacos: Rub blackening seasoning onto white fish fillets, such as tilapia, then sear them in a hot pan until they’re crispy. Serve the fish on tortillas with salsa, guacamole, and shredded cabbage.
- Blackened vegetables: Toss sliced vegetables (like bell peppers, onions, and zucchini) with blackening seasoning and olive oil, then roast them in the oven until they’re tender and slightly charred.
- Blackened tofu: Cut firm tofu into thick slices or cubes, then toss them with blackening seasoning before frying or baking them until crispy on the outside. Serve as a vegetarian protein source with rice or veggies.
- Blackened salmon: Rub a mixture of blackening seasoning and olive oil onto salmon fillets, then cook them in a skillet or on a grill until the outside is crispy and the inside is cooked to your liking. You can also serve the salmon over a bed of rice or quinoa with some roasted vegetables. Delicious and healthy!
More homemade spice blends
Poultry seasoning - Are you tired of the bland taste of your chicken dishes? Do you feel like your roasted turkey lacks flavor? Let's get started and spice up our poultry dishes with this recipe for homemade poultry seasoning!
Homemade Seasoned Salt - This homemade seasoning salt recipe combines common pantry seasonings to make a seasoned salt that is just like Lawry's seasoned salt!
Garlic Powder - Homemade garlic powder is easy to make with just a few simple steps. Follow my easy step-by-step photo instructions to make the best garlic powder.
All Purpose Seasoning Blend - Five minutes and a couple of pantry staples are all you need to make your favorite house seasoning blend.
Turkey Brine - Follow my simple instructions for how to brine a turkey for Thanksgiving. This a recipe for a dry turkey brine mix and it is great for a hostess gift or a gift exchange.
📝 Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
Cajun seasoning and blackening seasoning are similar in that they both originate from Louisiana and contain some of the same spices, such as paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. However, they are not exactly the same thing.
Cajun seasoning tends to have a milder flavor profile compared to blackening seasoning and is used more as an all-purpose seasoning for various recipes such as gumbo or jambalaya.
Blackening seasoning, on the other hand, is specifically used for blackening meat or fish by coating it with the seasoning mixture before cooking at high heat. This results in a charred exterior while keeping the inside moist and flavorful.
While there are similarities between Cajun seasoning and blackening seasoning, they are not interchangeable due to their differences in flavor profiles and intended uses.
Blackened seasoning can be keto-friendly depending on the specific ingredients used in the blend. Traditional blackened seasoning typically includes spices like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper, which are all keto-friendly.
However, some brands of blackened seasoning may include added sugars or other non-keto ingredients, so it’s important to check the label before purchasing. As always, it’s best to read the ingredient list carefully and in case of doubt consult with a nutritionist or dietitian.
If you want to use this spice mix as it is written, I have done my best to make it keto friendly.
👩🍳 Chef Tip
- Be careful not to overcrowd the pan - if there isn’t enough room between each piece of protein then they won’t cook evenly.
- If you’re cooking something thicker like chicken breasts then you may want to finish cooking them in the oven after searing them on both sides.
- Open windows and turn on fans as this technique can produce smoke depending on the seasoning used.
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Blackening Seasoning
There is more to a recipe than just the recipe card. Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
HELPFUL KITCHEN TOOLS
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons paprika
- 1 Tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 Teaspoon onion powder
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small dish and whisk or stir until fully mixed.3 Tablespoons paprika, 1 Tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 Teaspoon onion powder, 1 Teaspoon garlic powder, 1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning, 1 Teaspoon Salt, 1 Teaspoon black pepper
- Use immediately or store in an airtight jar or container in a dry pantry for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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👩🏻🍳 Sarah Mock
CEO/Owner/Founder/Culinary Blogger
Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 14 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.
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