Emeril's Cajun Water

Dive into bold Southern flavors with Emeril's Cajun Water, a versatile and aromatic cooking base that brings the heart of Cajun cuisine straight to your kitchen. This powerful blend is made by simmering water with zesty Cajun seasoning, kosher salt, fresh lemons, garlic bulbs, onions, and celery stalks, amplified with smoked paprika, bay leaves, and a touch of hot sauce. Designed to infuse your seafood boils, soups, or stews with robust, spicy depth, this 30-minute recipe is an essential for creating authentic Louisiana-inspired dishes. With optional liquid crab boil for extra intensity, Emeril's Cajun Water is your go-to foundation for unforgettable meals. Perfect for seafood lovers and Cajun food enthusiasts!

Nutriscore Rating: 62/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 4 gallons Water
• 1 cup Cajun seasoning
• 0.5 cup Kosher salt
• 4 whole Lemons
• 6 whole Bay leaves
• 2 bulbs Garlic
• 2 large Onions
• 6 whole Celery stalks
• 2 tablespoons Whole black peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon Hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons Smoked paprika
• 2 tablespoons Liquid crab boil (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Fill a large 8-10 gallon stockpot with 4 gallons of water and place it over high heat.

Step 2

Add the Cajun seasoning, kosher salt, bay leaves, whole black peppercorns, smoked paprika, and hot sauce to the water.

Step 3

Cut the lemons in half and squeeze the juice into the pot. Add the squeezed lemon halves directly into the water as well.

Step 4

Peel the outer layers of each garlic bulb but leave the cloves intact within the bulb. Cut the bulbs in half horizontally and place them into the pot.

Step 5

Peel and quarter the onions, then add them to the pot.

Step 6

Chop the celery stalks into 3-inch pieces and toss them into the water.

Step 7

If using liquid crab boil, add it to the pot now for an extra Cajun kick.

Step 8

Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and reduce the heat slightly to maintain a steady boil. Allow the Cajun water to cook for 30 minutes to infuse all the flavors.

Step 9

Once the Cajun water is ready, use it immediately to boil your favorite seafood or strain it for use as a flavorful base for soups and stews.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(16484.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	827.3

Total Fat 4.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 1.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 87488.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 177.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 55.4g	0%
Total Sugars 34.2g
Protein 22.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1549.7mg	0%
Iron 10.5mg	0%
Potassium 2770.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 4.8%

Protein: 10.6%

Carbs: 84.6%