Cajun Blackened Fish
This Cajun Blackened Fish is a simple and delicious weeknight dinner. This dramatic looking dish is actually simple to make, requiring just a few spices, a piece of fish and a hot pan! Serve it with your favorite summer side and you’ve got dinner in under 20 minutes!
Cajun Blackened Fish Recipe
While this Cajun Blackened Fish may sound complicated (blackening a fish? huh?) it’s actually dead-simple and SO DELICIOUS. And since fish cooks quickly, this dinner can be on the table in around 20 minutes! All it requires is mixing up a few spices to make a Cajun Seasoning blend, rubbing it on the fish and cooking it quickly in a hot pan to get a nice sear! Serve this dish up with your favorite seasonal side, preferably something simple to throw together (like this Corn and Avocado Salsa) and dinner is ready!
How to Blacken Fish
Blackening refers to a cooking technique of coating something in a spice blend and then quickly searing it off in a pan. The spices take on a nice toasty flavor and it has a dramatic finish to it with a crust! You want to cook the fish off quickly so that it forms that crust and so that it just toasts the spices instead of burning them.
What is in Cajun Seasoning
We’ve used Cajun Seasoning previously in our Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe, and we’re using that tried and true blend here for this classic Cajun dish. In our blend we use these spices:
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Cayenne
- Black pepper
- White pepper
What is the best type of fish to use with this recipe
We liked using this Cajun Seasoning with cod, but most any fish can work. Even some of the stronger flavored fish like salmon can work here because the cajun seasoning is bold enough to match it. Here are some options:
- Haddock
- Catfish
- Bass
- Flounder
- Salmon
What to Serve with this Blackened Fish
Because this dish comes together so quickly it’s best to pair it with a simple side, preferably one that requires little cooking. Here are some options:
- Avocado and Corn Salsa
- Jicama Kale Salad with Orange Lime Vinaigrette
- Easy Cucumber Salad with Lots of Herbs!
It also works well with:
If you like this fish recipe, check out these others:
- Paleo Air-Fryer Fish Sticks
- Paleo Fish and Chips
- Mahi Mahi Tacos with Tropical Salsa
- Sheet Pan Cod with Vegetables in Lemon Herb Sauce
Cajun Blackened Fish
This Cajun Blackened Fish is a simple and delicious weeknight dinner. This dramatic looking dish is actually simple to make, requiring just a few spices and a hot pan! Serve it with your favorite summer side and you've got dinner in under 20 minutes!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (for less heat lower or omit)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
- 4 cod fillets (about 2 lb.), skin removed
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
Directions
- In a small bowl mix together the cajun seasoning.
- On a plate rub spice mixture on evenly on both sides of fish fillets, shaking off any excess.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- When hot, place fish in skillet and cook about 3-4 minutes on both sides until the flesh can easily be pierced without any resistance.
- Serve with avocado corn salsa or desired side.
Recipe Notes
- You can swap out the cod with most any other firm fish, even salmon!
Nutrition
Cajun Blackened Fish
If you’ve got 5 minutes, than you can put together this easy homemade taco seasoning recipe and always have some on hand for taco Tuesday, or any night of the week!
Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
It sure is easy to buy your own spice blend at the store, but you know what else is easy? Making it at home so you can control the ingredients and flavor and always have it on hand! Homemade taco seasoning mix is simple, can be customized to your tastes (though we’re pretty sure you’re going to love this blend), and can be used on an endless variety of meats and veggies for a quick meal any night of the week, and not just for tacos! Use it on chicken, beef, shrimp, beans, cauliflower, potatoes or even popcorn!
What’s in it
- Chili Powder
- Cumin
- Paprika
- Garlic Granules
- Ground Celery Seed
- Fine Sea Salt
- Pinch Cayenne Pepper (optional)
Why you should make your own DIY taco seasoning
The best part about making your own spice blend is that you can control the quality of the spice and quantity of each. When you are purchasing a bottle of it at the store there is always a chance you actually don’t like the taste. You’ll know what we mean if you’ve picked up a brand name bottle and hated it because they really can vary drastically in flavor. Taco seasoning, or Mexican spice blend is definitely one of the ones that can be hit or miss. But our blend of spices? It’s the best, we promise! But also we list what we use and the quantity, so if you know you love a particular spice a lot and want to add a little extra, it’s totally okay to do. Start with 1/2 teaspoon at a time of decreasing or increasing to adjust to your particular taste.
How long does it keep
So it’s not that spices go bad, it’s that spices lose their potency. It’s generally accepted that spices should last about a year once opened, but that’s assuming the store you are purchasing it from has a quick turnover rate and isn’t let spices sit on the shelves for a while. If you are making this spice blend with spices that have been sitting on your shelf for a while your blend will lose its potency quicker. At the LCK test kitchen, if spices have been around for more than a year we toss and refresh with new ones.
Taco seasoning is perfect on:
If you like this taco seasoning recipe, check out these others:
- Taco Chicken Salad
- How To Make The BEST Taco Meat (In The Instant Pot!)
- 30-Minute Loaded Taco Skillet [VIDEO]
- Crispy Chicken Tacos with Special Sauce
Homemade Taco Seasoning
If you've got 5 minutes, than you can put together this easy homemade taco seasoning recipe and always have some on hand for taco Tuesday, or any night of the week!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground celery seed
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Pinch Cayenne Pepper (omit for kid-friendly)
Directions
- Place all ingredients in a jar and stir or shake to mix it up completely.
- Close with a tight fitting lid and store for up to one year (see note).
Recipe Notes
- Spices are best kept for one year, so if you are starting with older spices it may lose its potency sooner.
