So why exactly do they call it Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday for us non Cajuns? Mardi Gras is the day before the first day of Lent, otherwise known as Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the first of 40 days of watching your indulgences. For some, that is something such as drinking alcohol, while others scale back excessive eating habits. The Why Guides have a terrific breakdown of why Mardi Gras has become so centered around food and other fun activities. So for those wanting to bring the celebration to their own kitchen table, look no further than my must have dishes for Fat Tuesday.
Jambalaya
One of my absolute favorite things to make when I’m thinking back to New Orleans is Jambalaya. It has a little bit of everything and is filling just by itself. I have tried my fair share of recipes over the years, but there is one that has come out as the front runner and become my go-to when I am looking for comfort food. Frugal Family Favorites has a recipe that will have your mouth watering in no time.
Gumbo
If you are looking for a taste of the Louisiana backwoods, but soup is more your style than casserole type dishes, then I suggest you go for Gumbo. The wonderful thing with Gumbo is that it can be as thick or as thin as you wish when it is all said and done. The base of the dish itself will still be the same, but that finishing touch of rice is the “icing on the cake” so to speak. Tastes Better from Scratch has a recipe that is so authentic to New Orleans I feel like I’m back in the French Quarter every time I make it.
Dirty Rice
One of my absolute favorite dishes to make for Mardi Gras has got to be dirty rice. It really is an anything goes type dish for me. In truly authentic dirty rice you will find proteins such as chopped chicken liver and ground beef or pork. By no means are you required to use those items, but they definitely help if you are really looking for true dirty rice. When I am wanting dirty rice I visit Just A Pinch for their New Orleans Dirty Rice.
Etouffee
Where are my seafood and tomato lovers out there? If you love tomatoes or shellfish as much as I do, then this next recipe is for you. The French word “etouffee” roughly translates to “smothered”. And this dish does not disappoint in the smothered department. Etouffee is unlike its other cajun counterparts in the fact that it uses what is referred to as a blonde roux instead of the traditional brown/dark roux you find in other cajun cuisine. After much trial and error, I found the Cajun Shrimp Etouffee at Alison’s Allspice and haven’t looked back.
Hot Crawfish Dip
This is a dish that I have cooked so many times that I have genuinely lost count. That being said, it is also such a fan favorite I have never been able to snap a picture of it until now. The mixture of crawfish, spice and cream cheese is mind blowing. So if you want a dip to start your Mardi Gras off right, you have to swing over to Flying on Jess Fuel and try their Hot Crawfish Dip.
King Cake
Would it really be Mardi Gras if there wasn’t a King Cake or some variation of it? I think not. Of course you could always order your King Cake ahead of time and have it shipped from a Louisiana bakery or you could attempt an at-home version. So to round out your Mardi Gras feast, I suggest this super easy, and incredibly yummy King Cake Bubble Up from Plain Chicken. Whether or not you put the baby in it is completely up to you.
“When the taste changes with every bite and the last bite is as good as the first, that’s Cajun.”
-Paul Prudhomme
Do you celebrate Mardi Gras each year? If so, what foods do you like to cook? Have you ever celebrated in New Orleans? If so or you have a recipe you would like to share, drop your thoughts and suggestions into the comments section below.
