3 DIY Seasoning Blends – Cajun, Old Bay and Season Salt

If you read my post on tips for buying, storing and using herbs and spices, you know one of my favorite ways to save money is to make my own seasoning blends.  When you buy a premade seasoning blend, you have no control over what goes in there and really no idea of the quality of each ingredient.  Making your own means you control the flavor and the quality, AND you get the most bang for your buck on buying individual herbs and spices!  Win-win-win!!!

Here are quick, easy recipes for three of my favorite go-to seasoning blends:  Cajun, Old Bay and an all-purpose Season Salt.  Feel free to change up the ingredients or the amounts to make them your own favorites!

Ingredient Note:  All of these seasoning blends call for Kosher salt, which is not the same as table salt or fine sea salt.  If all you have is table or fine sea salt, use half the amount called for in each recipe.

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Cajun Seasoning Blend

I love this stuff!  Adjust the cayenne to your liking.  We like it hot so I usually ramp it up.  You will notice that salt is not a major player in this mix.  You can eliminate the salt entirely if you want full control of the salt levels in your cooking.  I sometimes make a batch without salt so I can – wait for it – use it on plain potato chips.

Cajun potato chips are everything!  Oh, and a salt-free version of this blend is also great sprinkled on snack mix or, my personal fave treat, White Cheddar Cheez-Its.

Ingredients for Cajun Seasoning Blend

• 6 Tbsp. paprika
• ¼ cup kosher salt
• 2 Tbsp. ground black pepper
• 2 Tbsp. ground white pepper
• 2 Tbsp. garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp. onion powder
• 1 Tbsp. dried thyme
• 1 Tbsp. cayenne

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight jar.

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All-Purpose Season Salt

This is my multi-purpose seasoning blend.  If you don’t want any heat at all, simply eliminate the cayenne.  Of course, feel free to add more if you like – I usually do!  If you’re wondering why there’s sugar in there…  Well,  that small amount of sugar acts as a flavor booster.  Nothing you season with this blend will taste sweet, just yummier!  Just like salt, a pinch of sugar can be added to many things to boost the natural flavor without adding sweetness.  Think of it as “nature’s MSG” without the side effects.

I most often use this blend on fries or to season the flour to dredge meat or fish before sautéing it.  Also, it is soooooooo good on corn on the cob & popcorn!

Ingredients for All-Purpose Season Salt

• 1/3 cup kosher salt
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. paprika
• ¾ tsp. garlic powder
• ½ tsp. ground celery seed
• ½ tsp. onion powder
• ½ tsp. ground white pepper
• ¼ tsp ground coriander
• 1/8 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight jar.  Whole celery seeds can be ground in a spice mill, with a mortar and pestle or buzzed in a small coffee grinder that you only use for grinding spices.

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Old Bay Seasoning Blend

This is my version of the classic seafood seasoning blend.  I can never get thru a whole can of that stuff before it dies, so it’s great to be able to make a small amount with herbs and spices I already have.

Ingredients for Old Bay Seasoning Blend

• 3 Bay leaves
• 1 ½ tsp celery seed
• 1 tsp. black peppercorns
• ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
• 2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 ½ tsp. dry mustard
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• ½ tsp. sweet paprika
• ¼ tsp. smoked paprika
• ½ tsp. white pepper
• ½ tsp. ground cloves
• ½ tsp. ground allspice
• ¼ tsp. hot paprika
• ¼ tsp. ground cardamom
• 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

Buzz the bay leaf, celery seed, and peppercorns in coffee grinder (one you use only for grinding spices).  You can also use a mortar and pestle, but you’ll get some exercise grinding the bay leaf fine enough.  😉Stir in the rest of the spices, and store the mixture in an airtight jar.

I hope you enjoy these blends, and that I’ve inspired you to get creative and come up with a few of your own.

Enjoy!

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