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Make one more make them all! This collection of classic New Orleans recipes will help you celebrate Mardi Gras (aka Carnival or Fat Tuesday) in style.
Every year, Mardi Gras falls on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the first day of lent, a religious season observed by people of the Catholic faith.
While Mardi Gras is technically just one day, some places have turned it into a week-long celebration. Along with New Orleans, Brazil and Venice have some of the largest festivals.
I love Mardi Gras because it’s a chance to enjoy some of the best dishes from New Orleans without fighting the crowds and chasing down beads. Shrimp Po’ Boys, Gumbo, and Beignets are some of my personal favorites (and I’d never turn down a King Cake, either).
Try a new recipe or make your old favorites. Whatever your plans, I hope they include plenty of good food come Fat Tuesday!
Table of Contents
- The Main Event
- Appetizers and Sides
- Desserts
- Drinks
The Main Event
New Orleans cuisine features a powerful fusion of French, Spanish, West African, and Native American influences. Sometimes spicy and always exploding with flavor, these are the classics you won’t want to miss.
1
Chicken Gumbo
Hearty Chicken Gumbo over rice is the ultimate Mardi Gras dinner. This chicken and sausage stew is so delicious, though, you'll want to make the easy gumbo recipe all year long.
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Fish and Seafood Recipes
Shrimp Étouffée
Chicken and Turkey Recipes
Blackened Chicken
Mardi Gras Recipes
Wisconsin-Style Jambalaya
Casserole Recipes
One Pot Cajun Pasta
2
Shrimp Po’ Boy
With my easy sandwich recipe guiding you along, the classic deli menu favorite of Shrimp Po' Boy sandwiches can be on the table just 15 minutes from now.
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Fish and Seafood Recipes
Sheet Pan Clam Bake
Fish and Seafood Recipes
Blackened Salmon
Fish and Seafood Recipes
Crab Cakes with Remoulade
3
Red Beans and Rice Recipe
What happens in New Orleans shouldn't stay in New Orleans if it's as delicious as Red Beans and Rice. Learn how to make weeknight Red Beans and Rice in just 40 minutes (that tastes like it's been simmering all day).
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Appetizers and Sides
You’ll either be adding bacon or deep-frying, and I’m not sorry about it at all. I can’t think of a better way to eat my veggies than with a crunchy coating!
4
Fried Okra
Delightfully crispy and ready in 15 minutes, my easy Fried Okra recipe is like the poppable cousin of fried green tomatoes. Try this Cajun Fried Okra as an appetizer or side dish for Mardi Gras or anytime you're craving the flavors of Louisiana.
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Side Dish Recipes
Collard Greens
Mardi Gras Recipes
Dirty Rice
Soup and Stew Recipes
Hoppin’ John
Mardi Gras Recipes
Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe
5
Hush Puppies
Perfect Hush Puppies are a work of art. Fluffy and light on the inside, crispy and salty on the outside, these easy homemade Hush Puppies are about to become your new favorite snack recipe. Bonus: A warm platter of Hush Puppies can be yours in just 15 minutes!
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Appetizer Recipes
Hot Corn Dip
Fish and Seafood Recipes
Oysters Rockefeller
Fish and Seafood Recipes
Grilled Fish Tacos with Spicy Slaw
Soup and Stew Recipes
Corn Chowder
Desserts
Whether you’re hunting for a plastic baby in your King Cake or setting your Bananas Foster aflame, there is no shortage of excitement and drama with Mardi Gras desserts.
6
King Cake Recipe
Fat Tuesday isn't complete without a King Cake recipe. This homemade King Cake is like a supersized cinnamon roll, dressed up for Mardi Gras.
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Fruit Dessert Recipes
Bananas Foster
Candy Recipes
Pecan Praline Recipe
Cake Recipes
Funnel Cakes
Pie and Tart Recipes
Pecan Pie
7
Beignets
To celebrate Mardi Gras or any day, learn how to make beignets from scratch. This classic doughnut-like treat is the perfect pairing for a hot cup of coffee.
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Drinks
New Orleans is littered with famous co*cktails, the most famous being the Sazerac but followed closely by the Hurricane (named after the glass, not the storm).
8
Hurricane co*cktail
This Hurricane co*cktail is a classic recipe from New Orleans. Made with two kinds of rum, three kinds of juice, and grenadine, it's sweet, fruity, and refreshing.
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co*cktail Recipes
Daiquiri
co*cktail Recipes
Grasshopper Drink
co*cktail Recipes
Hot Toddy
9
Sazerac Recipe
For the New Orleans' take on a classic whiskey co*cktail, try this Sazerac Recipe. It's made with rye whiskey, simple syrup, Peychaud's bitters, and a swirl of absinthe.
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Meggan Hill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
