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!

More Helpful Articles

To think about as you celebrate Labor Day

Labor Day weekend has come to symbolize the end of summer for many Americans and is celebrated with parties, street parades, and festivals (like the Millbrae Art and Wine Festival). While it is a festive weekend, please take a minute to remember its origin and pay...

read more

Maverick Jack’s Weekend Pop-Up at Coyote Point

The beautiful Coyote Point Recreation Area just got even better!!! Maverick Jack’s will now be serving its tasty food on weekends next to Boardsports and near the Magic Mountain playground. Now through the end of October, you can visit the park and grab a bite....

read more

Bay Area Transit’s “Big Sync”

This week, BART and AC Transit updated their schedules to align with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's “Big Sync” initiative. The goal of the Big Sync is to: Make transfers between transit systems smoother and more efficient Minimize wait times between...

read more