The Cagle Diaries
My Kitchen Favorites
From the cast iron that's survived a hundred gumbos to the spices I reach for every single day - these are the tools and ingredients I actually cook with. Nothing on this list is here just to fill space.
Cookware
Cast iron is the backbone of Cajun cooking. Heavy, reliable, and only gets better with age - just like the recipes.
6 Quart Enameled Dutch Oven
"My favorite Dutch Oven pot, for making any family dinner."
Shop on Amazon
100 Quart Crawfish Boiling Pot
"All you need for big crawfish boils, boiling crabs etc."
Shop on Amazon
24 Quart Large Stockpot
"For smaller crab boils, seafood boils, big batches of stock."
Shop on Amazon
Tools & Gadgets
The right tool makes the difference between a good roux and a great one. These are the ones that actually earn their drawer space.
Roux Whisk (Flat Whisk)
"If you prefer making your roux with a whisk, this is what you'll need."
Shop on Amazon
Wooden Roux Spoon
"Flat edged wooden roux spoon for scraping that roux without scratching."
Shop on Amazon
Seafood Crackers & Picks Set
"Eating crabs can be tricky, but with the right tools you can reach all that beautiful meat."
Shop on Amazon
Microplane / Zester
"My favorite tool for grating garlic so it melts right into the dish. For zesting too."
Shop on Amazon
Kitchen Shears
"For anything you need to break down in the kitchen - chicken, fish, herbs."
Shop on AmazonAppliances
A few countertop workhorses that earn their place in a Cajun kitchen.
Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker
"A great way to speed up cooking beans, stocks, braising."
Shop on Amazon
Food Processor
"Sometimes prepping trinity can be tedious. A food processor takes away the effort and speeds everything up."
Shop on Amazon
Featured Resource
Make Your Food Look as Good as It Tastes
This is how I learned to take professional photographs of my recipes - and it opened the door to making an income at the same time. If you're a food blogger or just want stunning shots of your cooking, Pretty Focused is where I'd tell anyone to start.
Explore the Course
Pantry Staples
The seasonings and ingredients that live permanently in my pantry. Stock these and you're already halfway to a great Cajun meal.
Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning
"A Louisiana staple. A solid seasoning for any dish."
Shop on Amazon
Smoked Paprika
"Once you've tried smoked paprika you'll never go back to regular paprika."
Shop on Amazon
Browning & Seasoning Sauce
"Having a browning sauce on hand helps visually improve your dishes as well as season."
Shop on Amazon
Crystal Hot Sauce
"Crystal hot sauce has long been one of our favorites to use, from Louisiana."
Shop on AmazonServing & Table
Because presentation is part of the experience - especially at a crawfish boil.
Crawfish Boil Platters
"Crawfish Boil platters for serving, perfect for crabs and shrimp and any other seafood boil too."
Shop on Amazon