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.
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.
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!
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!
More Helpful Articles
Back-to-School in the Bay Area!
As summer winds down and the school year approaches, the Bay Area becomes a bustling hub for back-to-school shopping and other activities. That makes this season a great time to give back to the community. The Bay Area is full of organizations dedicated to ensuring...
Celebrate the Bay Area with Local Festivals!
Celebrate the Bay this weekend! The Bay Area is well known for its diverse and vibrant blend of culture and history, highlighted by local festivals held year round. These festivals offer fun and engaging ways to better connect with the city’s heritage and community...
Watch our Bay Area Olympians!
The 2024 Paris Olympics is the most diverse to date, as it showcases athletic talent from across the globe. Of the 600 athletes representing the United States in the competition, over 140 hail from California, many with ties to the Bay Area. Known for our vibrant...
Recent Comments