Thursday, May 15, 2025

19 Simple Cajun and Creole Recipes to Rejoice Mardi Gras

 

Searching for one of the best Mardi Gras recipes? We’ve obtained you coated with 19 Simple Cajun and Creole Recipes to Rejoice Mardi Gras!

With a particular delicacies that’s the very definition of soul meals, and residential to probably the most well-known Mardi Gras celebrations within the U.S., the dishes of New Orleans are all of the inspiration you want in your good celebration menu to have fun Mardi Gras. Most well-known for its two main regional types of meals – Cajun and Creole – New Orleans is a metropolis whose melting-pot of cultural influences together with Native American, Spanish, French, Italian and African have come collectively to create a method of meals you gained’t discover anyplace else on the earth.  We predict you’ll love these well-liked New Orleans impressed dishes a lot that you just’ll wish to have fun with these Mardi Gras recipes all 12 months lengthy!

Simple Cajun and Creole Recipes For Mardi Gras!

1. Genuine New Orleans Gumbo

through Higher Dwelling

A thick stew, with French, African, and Native American influences, gumbo is a must have Mardi Gras meals in your Fats Tuesday celebration. Made with sautéed onions, peppers and celery, known as the “Holy Trinity” in Creole and Cajun cooking in Louisiana, Gumbos can embrace all the pieces from simply veggies in a model known as gumbo z’herbes to andouille sausage, hen, and seafood. The most effective half about gumbo is that no two style alike.

GET THE RECIPE

 

2. Oysters Rockefeller

through Caroline’s Cooking

Invented in 1899 by Jules Alciatore the son of the founding father of famed New Orleans restaurant Antoine’s, this delectable New Orleans oyster appetizer is so wealthy it was named after oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller. The unique recipe is a household secret, however one factor is definite, in case you serve up these oysters they gained’t final lengthy. Get this crowd-pleasing model from Caroline’s Cooking.

GET THE RECIPE

 

3. Shrimp Creole

through Recipes From a Pantry

This traditional Creole dish is a New Orleans favourite and ideal for any shrimp lover. Shrimp is sautéed with onions, peppers and garlic, herbs and seasonings after which simmered in a tomato based mostly sauce. Attempt to use Gulf or Louisiana caught shrimp for greatest outcomes and serve over rice. You’ll be hooked! Get the recipe at Recipes From a Pantry.

GET THE RECIPE

 

4. Soiled Rice

Dirty Rice recipe

through Southern Discourse

Soiled rice is a traditional Cajun and New Orleans aspect dish that makes the proper aspect to blacked fish, hen or your different native favorites. Whereas outdated recipes name cooking the rice with hen livers (which supplies it its attribute shade), we expect this recipe from Southern Discourse is simply as flavorful with out.

GET THE RECIPE

 

5. New Orleans Cornmeal Crusted Catfish Po’ Boy

New Orleans Fried Catfish Po Boy Recipe

through Higher Dwelling

Po’ Boys turned a New Orleans staple again in 1929, when brothers Bennie and Clovis Martins determined to serve sandwiches on French bread freed from cost to streetcar staff that had been on strike from their French Quarter espresso store. Martin is quoted as saying, “We fed these males freed from cost till the strike ended. Each time we noticed one of many putting males coming, one of many guys would say, ‘Right here comes one other poor boy.’” There’s all types of po’boys in New Orleans at present, however a number of the hottest are of the seafood selection, with all the pieces from shrimp, crawfish, fish and oysters to smooth shell crabs. Do that cornmeal crusted Catfish Po’Boy dressed with lettuce, tomato and remoulade sauce.
GET THE RECIPE

 

6. Crawfish Étouffée

through Jennifer Cooks

That is certainly one of our favourite Mardi Gras recipes! Étouffée, (pronounced eh-too-fey) which means ‘smothered’ in French is one other favourite dish from New Orleans that’s 100% consolation meals. Made by sautéing seafood (typically crawfish or shrimp) in a buttery roux based mostly sauce with spices, celery, onions and garlic after which served over rice, étouffée will be thought-about each Cajun and Creole relying on the way it’s seasoned. Should you can’t discover crawfish tails close to you (consider or not Walmart typically carries them) go for shrimp as an alternative. Do that easy to make however completely scrumptious model from Jennifer Cooks.

GET THE RECIPE

 

7. Pink Beans & Rice

Louisiana Red Beans and Rice

through Funds Bytes

Pink Beans and Rice is a type of easy Louisianan Creole dishes that doesn’t sound like a lot, however will certainly have you ever coming again for extra. Historically served on Mondays as a manner to make use of up pork bones left over from Sunday dinners, purple beans (not kidney beans) are stewed with the ‘Holy Trinity’ (garlic, celery and bell pepper) and smoked meats like andouille sausage. Served over rice and with a little bit, or quite a lot of sizzling sauce and you’ve got your self one particular dish. Do that scrumptious model from Funds Bytes.

GET THE RECIPE

 

8. Muffaletta

through Spicy Southern Kitchen

Should you love Italian fashion cured meats then a New Orleans muffuletta is a should in your Mardi Gras meals menu. Invented by Salvatore Lupo, a Sicilian immigrant who additionally based the well-known New Orleans Central Grocery (open since 1906) the unique muffuletta is a sandwich of ham, salami, mortadella, swiss and provolone served on a rounded fashion loaf of Italian bread. However what units the muffuletta aside is the olive salad – a mixture of olives with pickled veggies that provides layer of salty, tangy taste that makes for an ideal sandwich chunk. If you wish to strive the unique muffaleta and don’t stay within the New Orleans space, you’ll be able to help small enterprise and order muffalettas straight from Nook Grocery and have them shipped to your property. It’s also possible to make your very personal with this yummy recipe from Spicy Southern Kitchen.

GET THE RECIPE

 

9. Crawfish Boil

through This Ole Mother

Nothing says New Orleans and Louisiana greater than a crawfish boil. Get your palms soiled whereas consuming your crawfish boiled with Cajun spices, potatoes, corn, and smoked sausage. For such a easy dish it’s such a flavorful deal with! Get this recipe straight from a New Orleans native over at This Ole Mother.
GET THE RECIPE

 

10. Cajun Shrimp and Grits

Cajun Shrimp and Grits in a bowl with a spoon

through African Bites

There are a lot of great Creole and Cajun rice based mostly dishes from New Orleans. However in case you haven’t tried grits but, you’re lacking out. A well-liked dish within the south, grits is a mix of superb cornmeal (and generally rice) that’s simmered with wealthy elements like milk and cheese for the final word consolation meals. A dish that pairs completely with a spicy companion, do that improbable recipe for Cajun Shrimp and Grits from African Bites.

GET THE RECIPE

 

11. Grillades and Grits

Grillades and Grits

through Spicy Southern Kitchen

A well-liked brunch or breakfast Creole dish in NOLA served with eggs, Grillades and Grits (also called Grits and Grillades) can simply as simply be served for a satisfying dinner. Pronounced GREE-yahds, medallions of often beef, pork, or veal are pan-fried after which simmered in a Creole seasoned tomato or brown sauce till simmered. This one tastes even higher the following day.

GET THE RECIPE

 

12. Blackened Catfish

through A Woman Named Adri

For a lightweight however flavorful dish that’s good for anybody who likes issues spicy, do that Blackened Catfish recipe by A Woman Known as Adri. Redfish can be well-liked in Louisiana and will be substituted for the catfish, as can flounder and trout. Make this one alongside Pink Beans and Rice, or Jamabalaya.

GET THE RECIPE

 

13. New Orleans BBQ Shrimp

New Orleans BBQ Shrimp

through Closet Cooking

There’s no scarcity of scrumptious shrimp dishes in New Orleans or in Louisiana for that matter. However the humorous factor about New Orleans BBQ shrimp is that that they’re not really BBQed. Shrimp is sautéed in a spicy, tangy sauce that’s buttery and completely addicting. Whip up this tasty recipe from Closet Cooking that’s tremendous straightforward and so so good.

GET THE RECIPE

 

14. Brennan’s Bananas Foster

Brennan's Bananas Foster Dessert recipe for Mardi Gras

through CopyKat

If baking isn’t your factor, this easy to arrange but scrumptious dessert made with bananas flambéed with a banana liquer and rum-infused caramel sauce is a New Orleans delight you could put together shortly proper in your stove-top. This recipe was created by Chef Paul Blangé who was challenged by Owen Brennan, proprietor of Brennan’s Restaurant in New Orleans in 1951 to discover a solution to spotlight certainly one of New Orleans’s greatest imports – the banana. Served with vanilla ice-cream this dessert continues to be certainly one of Brennan’s and New Orleans’s hottest dishes.

GET THE RECIPE

15. King Cake

King Cake recipe

through Barbara Bakes

No Mardi Gras celebration is full with no King Cake! It’s a cake constructed from a wealthy candy cinnamon stuffed dough, iced after which embellished with sugars in conventional eye catching Mardi Gras colours of inexperienced, gold, and purple. The custom of King Desserts was launched to New Orleans by French settlers across the 1870s and is a must have Mardi Gras deal with. Initially it was eaten on the Epiphany (Jan 6) in any other case often known as Twelfth Evening to mark the start of Carnival season. There are a lot of types of King Cake out there, however one factor holds true – in case you get the plastic child (that represents the infant Jesus) baked inside in your slice, you’re in control of bringing the King Cake to the following Mardi Gras celebration. It’s the rule! Do that well-liked recipe from Barbara Bakes.

GET THE RECIPE

 

16. Bon Ton Cafe’s Bread Pudding

through CDK Kitchen

Bread Pudding is a New Orleans custom that’s simply what you’ll count on from the meals right here – pure and easy consolation meals with an understated magnificence. Stale French bread is torn into small items, soaked in cream, eggs and vanilla, baked after which drizzled with a whiskey infused vanilla sauce. There are a lot of variations and distinctive twists on Bread Pudding within the Massive Simple, however probably the most well-liked variations within the metropolis comes from Bon Ton Café. Get the official recipe linked beneath.

GET THE RECIPE

 

17. Conventional New Orleans Beignets

Authentic New Orleans Beignet recipe

through Sugar and Allure

Great for breakfast, dessert or a day deal with, this mild and ethereal French-style sq. doughnut is most original for not having a gap. Most famously served on the Café du Monde within the French Quarter with a beneficiant dusting (or ought to we are saying mountain) of powdered sugar, these favourite New Orleans fashion donuts are greatest eaten served with a restaurant au lait.

GET THE RECIPE

 

18. Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

chocolate bourbon pecan pie

through Striped Spatula

Pecan pie is one other favourite dessert you’ll see on menus all through town of New Orleans. And there’s as many variations of this candy, gooey and nutty pie as there are locations that serve it. We love this pecan pie from Striped Spatula that takes the flavour of this pie to a complete different heavenly stage with the addition of chocolate and one other New Orleans favourite – bourbon.

GET THE RECIPE

 

19. Pralines

Pecan Pralines

through Candy Pea’s Kitchen

There’s one thing concerning the candy, buttery and nutty scent of a freshly made praline that’s utterly intoxicating. Pronounced prah-leen in Louisiana, you’ll discover these confections in retailers throughout New Orleans, however watching the artistry of them being made at one of many specialty sweet retailers is a deal with in and of itself. Fabricated from brown sugar or white sugar, cream, butter and pecans, you’ll be shocked at how straightforward these candies are to make. You’ll discover one batch simply isn’t sufficient. Plus, in addition they occur to make nice items!

GET THE RECIPE

Additional Studying

Info About Mardi Gras You By no means Knew


Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Articles