Spice up Valentine's Day With These 3 Cajun Recipes
Bring the Heat on February 14th with Timoti’s Cajun Blackening Blend
No matter what your love language may be, preparing a delicious meal for someone you care about is always a fantastic idea. It’s often said that the way to win someone’s heart is through their stomach, and if you’re trying to do just that this February 14th, you’re in the right place. With one of these entrees, we guarantee this Valentine’s Day will be unforgettable.
Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
The aroma and melt-in-your-mouth decadence of this dish is a show stopper. Remember to always seek out wild-caught seafood for the freshest taste. It’s Valentine’s Day, after all, and nothing shows you care more than quality ingredients.
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
Recipe from Eat Well 28
1 tablespoon of kosher salt
8 ounces penne pasta
1 pound raw shrimp deveined, cleaned, tail removed
2 tablespoons of Timoti's Cajun Blackening Blend
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of butter
1 cup of heavy cream
1/2 cup of parmesan cheese
Instructions:
Add salt to a pot of water and bring to a boil. Cook pasta to al dente. Before draining, scoop out at the least 1/2 cup of cooking water. Drain pasta and reserve.
As the pasta is cooking, cook the shrimp and sauce. Combine shrimp with Cajun seasoning and essential olive oil in a bowl. Toss to mix.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high temperature. Add butter and melt. Add shrimp in one layer and cook until golden brown on each side, turning only one time. You might have to cook shrimp in two batches to permit enough space. Once done cooking, transfer cooked shrimp to some clean plate and reduce heat to medium-low.
Add heavy cream to the pan and scrape bottoms to release any food that’s stuck to underneath. Allow the cream to bubble. Reduce heat to low and stir in parmesan cheese until it is melted. Add cooked pasta and shrimp. Stir to coat. If the sauce must be thinned; add pasta water, one tablespoon at the same time until desired consistency is achieved.
Cajun Salmon
If you’ll be spending February 14th among family, this Cajun salmon is a fantastic dinner selection. Fresh salmon is one of the healthiest seafood options, and its mild and refreshing taste makes it a great choice for those whole are not as accustomed to eating seafood. For pairing, we recommend roasted veggies and grains, such as rice or quinoa. Best of all, you can have this meal on the table within 30 minutes.
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
Recipe and photo from Cooktoria
2-3 salmon fillets skin on (about 1 lb.)
1 tablespoon of olive oil
3 tablespoons of butter; divided
3 garlic cloves minced
1/2 cup of white wine (your favorite kind)
2 tablespoons of chopped parsley
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of Timoti's Cajun Blackening Blend or to taste
Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions:
Season the salmon fillets with salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning.
Heat the oil in a medium, non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook the salmon fillets flesh-side down first, for 5 minutes on each side, or until cooked to your liking. Once cooked, remove them from the pan and set aside.
To the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of butter and garlic. Cook for 1 minute. Add the wine and cook for about 5 minutes, until reduced by more than half.
Stir in the remaining butter, parsley, lemon juice, and a pinch of Cajun seasoning. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Return the salmon to the pan, and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Cajun Style Florida Snapper
Taste the perfect combination of sweet and spicy with this exciting spread. Pair the snapper with fresh fruit salsa and top with a lime margarita sauce for a zesty explosion of flavor. Light some candles and get ready to impress that special someone with this multi-tiered melody of seasonings.
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
Recipe and photo from Ask Chef Dennis
Snapper
2 tablespoons of Timoti's Cajun Blackening Blend
1 teaspoon of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of unseasoned cracker meal
16-ounces of snapper total (2 8-ounce fillets)
1 tablespoon of olive oil
Lime Margarita Sauce
2 tablespoon of butter
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
Juice from one lime
1-ounce of tequila
Fruit Salsa
2 ounces of diced mango (possible substitutions are peaches or cantaloupe)
2 ounces of diced pineapple
2 ounces of diced strawberries
2 ounces of diced red onions
1 tablespoon of cilantro finely chopped
A pinch of sea salt
Juice from one lime
Instructions:
Snapper
Trim snapper fillets and rinse in cold water, pat dry with paper towels.
Mix Cajun seasoning with cracker meal and brown sugar.
Press one side of snapper fillets into seasoning mixture; coating evenly.
Get the sauté pan very hot and add just enough olive oil to keep the fish from sticking.
Add prepared snapper fillets, seasoned side down in the pan.
Allow them to cook undisturbed until the coating has browned, then turn to sear the other side of the fish.
Remove fillets from the pan, place in baking dish seasoned side up, and add a little water to the pan.
Place baking dish in a preheated 350-degree oven for 15 minutes.
Fruit Salsa
Mix diced fruit, onions, cilantro, lime juice and salt together. (Strawberries will soften and bleed, so if you make this ahead of time, don't add the strawberries until serving time.)
Lime Margarita Sauce
In a small sauté pan add 1 tablespoon of butter. After it melts, add in brown sugar and blend well.
Add in lime juice and tequila, allow the alcohol in the tequila to burn off. Add in the last tablespoon of butter and allow the mixture to thicken.
**Do not overheat! The sauce will break. Wait until you are ready to serve the snapper before the final heating of the margarita sauce.**
Don’t Forget Your Timoti's Cajun Blackening Blend
Before you begin cooking, equip yourself with one of the most versatile and tasty Cajun seasonings in Northeast Florida. Inspired by the exciting flair of our southern streets, Timoti's Cajun Blackening Blend brings the heat to any dish. Tested and approved by locals, it has become a household staple when looking to take any meal from mundane to out of this world.