Food and Recipes Seasonings Blackened Seasoning Be the first to rate & review! This warming seasoning will add some zest to your favorite dishes. Use it on meats, seafood, even vegetables for a special little kick. By Julia Levy Julia Levy Julia is an experienced cook with a demonstrated history of working in the publishing industry. She is skilled in catering, food & beverage, event planning, and menu development. She tests and develops recipes in the DotDash Meredith Test Kitchen for Southern Living. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on July 17, 2023 Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Active Time: 5 mins Total Time: 5 mins Yield: 5 Tbsp. This simple recipe for blackened seasoning can be whipped up in mere minutes and will amp up your everyday recipes with ease. Homemade spice mixes offer up more flavor and aroma than their store-bought counterparts. Blackened seasoning is a zesty, spicy, and versatile spice mix to have on hand for seasoning all of your favorite proteins—like shrimp, chicken, and fish—plus hearty sides like potatoes. Whip up a batch easily in just five minutes, and store it for months for easy and flavorful recipes over and over again. Blackened Seasoning Ingredients Blackened seasoning, also called blackening seasoning, is a warm and spicy herb mix that's made with chili powders, herbs, and spices. Blackened seasoning can be described as hot but not necessarily spicy—unless you increase the amount of cayenne. (And you should, if you like a spicier flavor.) To make the blackened seasoning, you’ll need: PaprikaOnion powderCayenne pepperGarlic powderBlack pepperKosher saltDried thymeDried parsleyDried basilDried oregano Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley What Your Favorite Southern Seasoning Says About You How To Make Blackened Seasoning You can whip up a batch of blackened seasoning in just five minutes or less. Step 1. Combine ingredients: Stir together all of the ingredients in a small bowl or jar.Step 2. Use it: Or store it in an air-tight spice jar until you're ready to use it. How To Store Blackened Seasoning Use blackened seasoning immediately, or seal it up tightly and store it at room temperature for as long as three months. My Grandmother Sneaks This Southern Seasoning Into Everything She Cooks What Does Blackening Mean in Cooking? Blackening refers to the process that occurs when the blackening spices on meat or fish turn very dark brown, almost black while cooking. To blacken a food, you'll first brush or dip the protein in butter, then roll it in or sprinkle on the spice mix. Next, you'll sear the fish, chicken, or whatever you're cooking on high heat (usually in a cast-iron skillet). This renders a spice crust indicative of a blackened item. Some people dip the food to be blackened in butter before dredging in the spices. But simply coating it in the spices and cooking butter should suffice as long as you have enough oil in the pan. The important thing is that you'll need oil or butter somewhere in the process because it hydrates the blackened seasoning and makes it rich and buttery while cooking. Otherwise, you could end up with dry, dusty spots of spice mix that isn't properly cooked. Oil works, but using butter helps the blackened food develop a better crust. Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley How To Use Blackened Seasoning This blackened seasoning is versatile and works great as a zesty addition to a wide array of proteins, from chicken (such as breasts or thighs) to shrimp or fresh fish. Use 1 1/2 tablespoons to season each pound of meat. For fish, use 2 teaspoons per eight ounces. And use 2 tablespoons per each 1 1/2 lbs of potatoes. Serve alongside broccoli or roasted asparagus. Try these recipes if you're interesting in cooking with the spice: Blackened Shrimp Rice Bowls Blackened Fish Tacos Jenné Claiborne's Cajun Blackened Tofu Sandwich 110 Delectable Recipes That Use Worcestershire Sauce Saute proteins in either oil or butter for a perfect blackened crust on the finished product. What Does Blackened Seasoning Taste Like? This seasoning blend is best described as zesty. Given the significant amounts of cayenne and paprika, it has a warming effect. It is a bit spicy, but not overpoweringly so. (Note: The spiciness of the seasoning tends to be more noticeable on potatoes than on fish.) More Homemade Seasonings and Condiments Homemade Taco Seasoning Pumpkin Pie Spice Herbed Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Alabama White Sauce Red Chipotle Pepper Jelly Editorial contributions by Alesandra Dubin. Ingredients 2 Tbsp. paprika 1 Tbsp. onion powder 2 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. dried thyme 1/2 tsp. dried parsley 1/2 tsp. dried basil 1/2 tsp. dried oregano Directions Measure ingredients: Add all ingredients to a bowl. Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Make seasning mix: Stir together all ingredients in a small bowl or jar. Use immediately, or seal tightly and store at room temperature up to 3 months. Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between blackened seasoning and Cajun seasoning? Cajun seasoning and blackened seasoning are similar enough that the terms are often used interchangeably. Blackened seasoning uses many of the herbs and spices common in both Cajun and Creole cooking—it was originated in New Orleans after all. What is blackening seasoning made of? Blackening seasoning is a combination of chili powders, herbs, and spices. Most recipes include some combination of paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, dried thyme, dried oregano, dried basil, and dried thyme. How do you get blackened seasoning to stick? Classic techniques for blackening a fish or other proteins first have you to dip or brush the food in butter. Then you can dredge the food in the seasoning mix, or sprinkle it on with a heavy hand. Gently press to help the seasoning adhere to the food before putting it in the pan. What's the difference between blackening and charring? Blackening is done with herbs and spices and a cooking technique that creates a very dark brown crust. Charring involves no herbs or spices but instead uses heat or flames to intensely cook a food, nearly burning it. Rate It Print Additional reporting by Alesandra Dubin