A Taste of Mardi Gras

Happy Mardi Gras! Known for large parades and glistening beads, Mardi Gras is one of the best times of the year for New Orleans. This year, be sure to join in on the fun by trying out these classic recipes. 

New Orleans Gumbo

This Louisiana-based stew is one of the official state foods. The base of this recipe is a hearty stock, typically made with shellfish or meat, followed by a “holy trinity” of vegetables: onion, celery, and bell peppers. It is then thickened and mixed with the protein of your choice. Common add-ins include chicken, shrimp, andouille sausage, and even oysters. Finally, this delicious stew is served warm over rice and devoured in seconds. 

Jambalaya 

Need a quick one-pot dish? Try Jambalaya. This Louisiana classic has roots in Spain, France, and West Africa, blended together to create a bowl of Southern comfort. Similar to Gumbo, Jambalaya is cooked with the holy trinity and your choice of meats, typically including sausage, chicken, and pork. It follows a similar cooking process, but this time you add the meat and vegetables to your pot before the stock and meat. The result? A warm, paella-like dish. 

The key to Gumbo and Jambalaya is to make a big batch and store leftovers. While they are optimal for celebrating Mardi Gras, they make excellent freezer meals or meals to share with neighbors if you are feeling generous.

Hopefully, you saved room after your delicious dinner because dessert is on the way!

King Cake

For dessert, it’s king cake time! This ring-shaped pastry is the perfect dessert for a crowd and comes along with a fun game. You’ll begin this recipe by prepping your dough and filling before creating the classic ring-shaped dessert. After you bake the cake, the fun begins! The key to a good king cake is the green, yellow, and purple sprinkles on top, which are the traditional colors of mardigras. If you want to create a game, be sure to add a small plastic baby to one slice so it can be found later. It is believed that the finder of the baby will have good luck for the year and be in charge of hosting next year!