Suitable for Low Carb, Keto, Paleo, Whole 30, and Gluten Free diets. Weight Watchers Points included.
What is Cajun Cuisine?
Cajun is a rustic-style of cooking that originates from the Acadiana region of Louisiana. Cajun cooking relies on local ingredients prepared with bold and flavourful spices. Shrimp, crawfish and andouille sausage are staples of Cajun cuisine and are found in a variety of traditional dishes. An authentic Cajun meal is typically comprised of 3 pots. One pot for the main course, another containing steamed rice, and the third dedicated to cooking available and in-season vegetables. The characteristic Cajun heat (thanks to cayenne pepper) and bold spices are widely popular, and Cajun cuisine can now be found all around the world.
Tools Needed
A large enough skillet for sizzling. Your regular mixing bowl or plate. A slotted turner.
So, are you ready to learn how easy it is to make this delicious Cajun Shrimp Recipe? Then gather up your ingredients and I will show you….
How To Make Cajun Shrimp
Mix together, Cajun spice, smoked paprika, garlic, salt and 1 tablespoon of water to make it into a bit of a paste. Add in the shrimp and mix till shrimp is well coated. Heat a skillet over medium till hot and then spray with some cooking spray. Cook the shrimp in batches for about 2-3 mins per side. Note: you may need to add a bit more cooking spray to the pan between batches.
How To Make Cajun Shrimp – Grill Version
Pre heat your grill to high. Mix together, Cajun spice, smoked paprika, garlic, salt and 1 tablespoon of water to make it into a bit of a paste. Add in the shrimp and mix till shrimp is well coated. Spray shrimp with low calorie spray. Cook on the grill for 2-3 mins per side.
Tips For Making Cajun Shrimp
It is important that you don’t crowd the skillet. Cook your Cajun shrimp in batches to avoid cooling the pan down and ‘boiling’ the shrimp instead of frying. If you notice liquid forming when you start to cook (especially if using defrosted shrimp), tilt then pan and use a spoon to remove the excess water.
Want to really kick it up a notch? Add more cayenne pepper to make your Cajun Shrimp extra spicy. You can also reduce the amount of Cajun seasoning if you don’t like the heat. If not following Weight Watchers, you can use oil instead of no-calorie cooking spray to make the paste and fry the shrimp.
How To Make You Own Cajun Seasoning Mix
Cajun seasoning mix is comprised of cayenne pepper, dried herbs, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. There are many different prepared Cajun spice mixes are available for purchase, but for the freshest flavour, it’s best to make it yourself. It really is quite easy to do, as all of the spices are likely to already be in your cupboard. And you can either make it up as needed, or prepare a larger batch to keep on hand and add to all sorts of different recipes. I recommend following this Homemade Cajun Seasoning recipe from Delish to start. You can then easily adjust and customise to perfectly suit your taste.
Is Cajun Shrimp Healthy?
Shrimp is a healthy high-protein, low-calorie food. A 3-ounce (85 g) serving of shrimp contains just 84 calories and zero carbs. Shrimp also provides a variety of essential vitamin and minerals, and is a good source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. All that, and it tastes great too!
Can You Make Cajun Shrimp Using Frozen Shrimp?
Yeap. You can use fresh of frozen shrimp in this Cajun Style Shrimp recipe. To defrost your frozen shrimp, simply follow one of these two methods: Overnight Defrost Option:
Add frozen shrimp to a bowl. Cover the bowl and put in your refrigerator for 8 hours, or overnight. Remove from fridge and drain any water from the shrimp before using.
Quick Defrost Option:
Place the frozen cooked shrimp in a colander or large bowl. Run cold tap water over the shrimp, mixing the shrimp every few mins to ensure they thaw evening.
Depending on the size, the shrimp will be thawed in 10 -15 mins. Strain the water completely before cooking.
What To Make With Cajun Shrimp
This Spicy Cajun Shrimp recipe is quite versatile and is perfect for serving as an appetizer or a main course. Cajun shrimp is also a great choice for meal prep and can be used to make a wide variety of dishes. Add them to salads, turn them into tacos or lettuce wraps, or include them in healthy grab-and-go meal prep bowls. Or make a rich and creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta dish (see the section below for instructions). Yeap. Cook up a few batches of this delicious Cajun shrimp and you can enjoy tasty, flavourful meals all week long!
Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Making delectable Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta is sooooo easy. Just follow these simple steps to make a satisfying and flavourful main course that is sure to become a favourite weeknight meal:
Cook your pasta of choice (I like to use linguine) according to package instructions. While pasta is boiling, cook your Cajun shrimp as directed, then remove from skillet. Make a roux from 2 tbsp melted butter, 1 tbsp flour and 1 cup (240ml) of cream. Then stir in 1/3 cup (30g) grated Parmesan cheese and add the drained pasta. Return the Cajun shrimp back to the pan, toss and serve!
What To Serve With Cajun Shrimp
What To Serve With Cajun Shrimp Salad
Easy Squash Casserole. Mashed Potatoes. Easy Skillet Cornbread. Instant Pot Mac and Cheese. Instant Pot Rice. Air Fryer Baked Potato. Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
More Southern Recipes:
Air Fryer Cajun Pork Chops Cajun Shrimp Salad Instant Pot Jambalaya Crispy Golden Cajun Air Fryer Fish
Weight Watchers Points
This recipe for Cajun Shrimp contains 0 Freestyle Points! Thank you for reading my Shrimp Cajun Recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.
