A full-flavored mild cajun seasoning alternative that's salt-free and cayenne pepper-free especially blended for my friend, Miss Evelyn from Louisiana. ♡

plate of vegan creamy cajun fettuccine alfredo, cajun spiced mushrooms, onion and zucchini and salad

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My friend Evelyn was told by her doctor that she can't have salt, spicy cayenne red pepper or black pepper right now because of a health condition. That's a BIG problem considering Miss Evelyn is from Lake Charles, Louisiana!

So, her sweet daughter asked me and my son, Wesley, to put together a blend of cajun spices for her mama. This is the blend we came up with and it's helping her to enjoy her food more while her taste buds adjust to her new dietary restrictions.

We were so happy to hear that it was a hit! We hope it helps you, too, if you or a family member is in need of a mild, salt-free cajun spice blend.

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🧄 Ingredient notes
🔪 Instructions
Expert Tips
👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Serving suggestions
🥡 Make ahead and storage tips
🗺 Cultural influences
💜 More recipes you'll love
📖 Recipe
💬 Reviews

🧄 Ingredient notes

ingredients for Evelyn's Cajun Seasoning (salt-free, cayenne-free, black pepper-free): smoked sweet paprika, sweet paprika, cumin, thyme, oregano, garlic, onion and white pepper

Sweet smoked paprika - Key for a deep flavor to this spice blend and a non-spicy alternative to cayenne pepper. Because we're making a non-spicy, mild cajun seasoning, it's important to choose a sweet smoked paprika. Smoked paprikas come in sweet, bittersweet and spicy varieties, depending on the pepper they used to make the paprika. Spain and Hungary are both known for excellent paprikas. La Dalia brand smoked paprika from Spain is one I recommend.
Ground white pepper - Rather than intense heat, white pepper gives a deep warmth to dishes it's added to. It's a great substitute for someone needing to stay away from spicy food for awhile. Organic McCormick ground white pepper, the one I have in my pantry, is available at most grocery stores in the spice aisle.

🔪 Instructions

Here's how to make no-salt cajun seasoning step-by-step!

Step 1: Measure out all of your spices, being careful not to get them wet. (Use dry containers, measuring spoons and mixing utensils)

Step 2 Mixing spices in a bowl with a fork

Step 2: Mix all the spices thoroughly in a small bowl using a fork. Crush any lumps with the back of the fork.

Step 3: This is what the spice blend should look like when you're done.

Step 4 put cajun blend in airtight container like a glass jar

Step 4: Store it in an airtight container, like a small glass jar, label it (painter's tape is the best for this!) and store it in a cool, dry place, where you keep the rest of your spices. It'll keep for a year.

Expert Tips

Mix it thoroughly to get all the lumps out of the paprika.
Don't make the mistake I did: Don't sniff the white pepper or stir too vigorously - it'll make you sneeze like crazy!

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Serving suggestions

Sauces, condiments and spice blends take a meal from just okay to amazing. Use this cajun seasoning blend to bring the flavor of Louisiana to any dish.

We love this low-sodium cajun seasoning on sautéed vegetables, like zucchini, yellow squash, onions and mushrooms. Red beans and rice goes perfect with cajun sautéed summer squash.

plate of white rice, red beans, cajun summer squash and cornbread, with more cornbread in a cast iron skillet on the side

It's delicious on creamy cajun pasta, too! Mix it into some creamy shell pasta to spice things up.

🥡 Make ahead and storage tips

Store this spice blend in an airtight container, like a glass mason jar or clean, re-useable spice jar. It will keep for up to a year.

🗺 Cultural influences

My friends Miss Evelyn and her daughter Regina, both from Louisiana, approved this seasoning as a decent alternative to traditional cajun spice blends.

This recipe was also inspired by my background as a native Texan. Louisiana is our closest neighboring state to the east, so our cultures often enmesh.

This recipe was adapted from this easy homemade cajun seasoning blend recipe by The Busy Baker.

See About for more information on my cultural influences and how I attribute recipes.

💜 More recipes you'll love

If you love this recipe, check out these other Southern plant-based recipes!

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