Are you wondering How to Make Cajun Shrimp or even what Cajun Shrimp is?
Many people believe Cajun cooking to be spicy hot. This is not always true. Cajun cooking is created by the blend of flavors or seasonings used in recipes.
The most popular cajun blend includes bell peppers, celery and onion. You can add "hot" peppers or spices to the blend to make the Cajun food spicy hot but many recipes do not do this. They are just flavorful with many seasonings.
Cajun cooking was derived from a group of settlers in Louisiana, called the Acadians. The Acadians had to live off the land and being near the Gulf Coast and many marshes this typically included the use of crawfish, oysters, fish and shrimp in their cooking. Thus, many shrimp dishes were created "cajun" style.
Popular variations of Cajun cooking include gumbo, jambalaya and a crawfish boil. Gumbo is a spicy stew typically related to Louisiana. It mainly consists of rice and broth along with the flavors or seasonings typical of Cajun cuisine. Then shrimp or other protein sources are added to the stew.
Jambalaya is a combination of cooked rice and a variety of other ingredients. It may include tomatoes, onion, green pepper, meat, poultry, and/or shellfish such as shrimp.
A crawfish boil is typically done by boiling crawfish, potatoes, onions and corn with seasonings such as lemons, bay leaves, mustard seeds, cayenne pepper and other spices. Shrimp is often used in conjunction with the crawfish or as a substitute.
You will also find many other variations of Cajun shrimp recipes like Cajun BBQ Shrimp, Cajun Shrimp Scampi, Cajun Garlic Shrimp, and more. These recipes are created using a Cajun seasoning like McCormick's Bayou Cajun Seasoning or a home-made blend of seasonings to create the Cajun flavor. Like the one below.
Cajun Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons white pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Blend all ingredients together and store in an airtight container. Use in your favorite Cajun recipes.
You can create some wonderful Cajun shrimp recipes using this homemade spice or one like the McCormick's mentioned above. Enjoy!
Cajun Shrimp
- 3 lbs. raw shrimp
- Cajun seasoning
- Black cracked pepper
- Tabasco
- Worcestershire sauce
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Salt
Spread shrimp in a single layer in baking pan. COAT with cracked black pepper. When you think you have too much, add more. Sprinkle on Cajun seasoning. (Remember you are seasoning through the shell). Add two or three drops of Tabasco. Drizzle with olive oil. Add Worcestershire sauce. (There should be enough Worcestershire sauce so that it is standing in the pan). Top with several pats of butter. Broil about 5 minutes. Serve with French bread and salad. (Oh yeah, and a lot of napkins!)
- Editor's Note: This article is brought to you by Beth Brawn, creator of Free Shrimp Recipes. You can visit her website for many more delicious Cajun shrimp recipes along with many other shrimp cooking tips, cooking videos and more great recipes.