Nitrate & Nitrite Free Cajun Herb Oil
This bold, fragrant oil brings serious Cajun character to your table using nothing but spices, fresh herbs, and good olive oil — no cured meats, no processed shortcuts, and absolutely nothing that sneaks in unwanted preservatives. That matters more than you might think, because a lot of store-bought flavored oils and Cajun-style condiments rely on ingredients that contain hidden additives. Here, smoked paprika, cayenne, oregano, and thyme do all the heavy lifting, bloomed gently in warm olive oil until the kitchen smells incredible. Fresh parsley, chives, thyme leaves, and a hit of lemon zest get stirred in off the heat, keeping their brightness intact before the whole thing is strained into a clean, glossy finishing oil. The result is deeply savory with a slow, building heat and just enough citrus lift to keep it from feeling heavy. Drizzle it over grilled vegetables, crusty bread, roasted chicken, or anything else that could use a little Southern-inspired punch. It's the kind of condiment that makes people ask what your secret is.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp celery salt
- 1 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely sliced
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- 1
Combine the olive oil, smoked paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme, cayenne, black pepper, kosher salt, and celery salt in a small saucepan over low heat. Warm, stirring occasionally, until the oil is fragrant and the spices begin to sizzle gently at the edges, about 3–4 minutes. Do not let the oil smoke or the spices scorch.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the spiced oil cool for 5 minutes. Stir in the parsley, chives, fresh thyme leaves, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
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