"Blackening" is a classic Cajun cooking technique which involves searing spice coated seafood and meats in a hot skillet so the rub turns black (but not burnt). I think the black crust and white juicy flesh inside looks so stunning! I served this with a simple Corn Butter Rice Salad - refer to the Notes for the recipe. This is adapted from this Blackened Fish Tacos recipe, a guest post here on RecipeTin Eats by Kathleen of Hapa Nom Nom. Watch the video on my YouTube Channel!
Recipe by Nagi | RecipeTin Eats on February 8, 2016
Prep time: PT5M
Cook time: PT5M
Total time: PT10M
Rating
5 stars (18 reviews)
Ingredients
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dry mustard
3/4 tsp salt ((table salt))
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper ((or to taste))
Good grind of black pepper
4 firm white fish fillets ((about 150g/5oz each) (Note 1))
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Categories
Dinner
Seafood
Cuisine
Cajun
Steps
Combine Spice Mix in a shallow dish and mix.
Coat both sides of the fish fillets with the Spice Mix, shaking off excess.
Heat oil in a large heavy based skillet over medium high heat.
Add fish and cook until the rub turns black, then flip and cook the other side until the fish is cooked to your taste. (Note 2)
Serve immediately. I served mine with a buttery Corn Rice Salad - refer to the Notes for the recipe.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 163 g
Calories: 199 kcal
Carbohydrates: 2.6 g
Protein: 28.7 g
Fat: 9 g
Saturated Fat: 1.7 g
Cholesterol: 73 mg
Sodium: 493 mg
Sugar: 0.6 g
Reviews
LB on 2025-09-09 (5 stars): Delicious. Made it with Flake. Served it with Nagi's Green Bean Salad and some charred corn. Super easy and tasty. Will make this spice mix in bulk for easy future use. Thanks!
Rob Fullerton on 2025-06-15 (5 stars): Great idea… never heard of date sugar… I bet it’s delicious
Julie on 2025-02-04 (5 stars): I made this for the first time and used tilapia. It was excellent! My husband couldn't praise it enough. Very easy and quick to prepare. A new keeper!
Rikki on 2024-08-07 (5 stars): Made this many times it's delicious doesn't matter which type of fish as long as there's lots it's all that matters oh did I mention that it's delicious big love from Scotland 🏴❤️
Sabrina Tripp on 2024-07-24 (5 stars): This was absolutely amazing… minor tweak I added just a small sprinkle of date sugar( I saw this done in the South) and cooked in ghea omg so good! Thank you Nagi
Martin M on 2024-04-11 (5 stars): Made this recipe for the fish exactly as written and used rockfish. Terrific recipe and used the blackened rockfish nestled in crisp and cool romaine lettuce, topped with a sweet and spicy mango salsa and a drizzle of some cool fish taco sauce, and wrapped in a toasted corn tortilla! Incredibly delicious and quick weeknight meal and so healthy! ありがとう, ナギちゃん❤️
Ariane G on 2023-06-28 (5 stars): Easy and tasty. A good weeknight meal.
Janell on 2022-03-02 (5 stars): Nagi, should the 1 tsp "dried thyme" be ground thyme or the other one that looks like dry tiny sticks? (sorry, just hard to describe!) :)
Grace on 2021-03-11 (5 stars): SOOO GOOD and SOOOO easy - I've made this twice. Once with a white ling and another time with Basa. We have it with tacos, guac, grated carrot, chopped capsicum, diced tomato, grated cheese and yoghurt. Dinner ready in 20 mins. Thanks, Nagi!
Angelika on 2020-12-20 (5 stars): Hi Nagi, this seasoning is just to die for, I used flake (Shark) for this recipe my husband ate all of it so it must have been very good, very good.
I compared your seasoning with a store bought one and chucked that one in the bin.
When I discovered your website I instantly fell in love with "Charlie"
Merry Christmas by the way from halfway around the globe (Melbourne/Australia)
Darleen on 2020-03-22 (5 stars): Made this last night with salmon, hubby said it's the best fish he's ever eaten! Made fish tacos tonight with the leftovers... Brilliant!
Desiree' on 2019-07-31 (5 stars): I prepared this for supper last night with hake. A total hit with my family! so simple yet so tasty. I served it with Lemon Baby Potatoes and mint peas. Thank you Nagi! I love cooking again.