Sure, the beads and bright colors might be attractive. The parades might give off the allure of 24/7 fun. But even when attending Mardi Gras, the main reason many of us love New Orleans so much is the food. Even dishes we’ve come to know so well taste better in the Big Easy. While it might not be feasible for everyone to make the pilgrimage to New Orleans this February, we can always create a little Mardi Gras of our own, right in our own kitchens. Here are a few staples of the New Orleans recipe book.
Jambalaya
Really, you don’t need a special occasion to enjoy jambalaya. It’s a great meal for any time. The best part about jambalaya, aside from the name, is that you can do almost anything with it. Really, the only staples of the dish are rice, tomatoes, and bell peppers. After that you can add almost anything you can imagine. While a traditional New Orleans jambalaya will traditionally contain andouille sausage and shrimp, there are dozens upon dozens of other options. You can also add your own blend of seasonings, spices, and vegetables to get it just how you want it. If you need a guide, and we all do at first, here are a couple of popular recipes:
Emeril’s Mardi Gras Jambalaya
Eula Mae’s chicken and ham jambalaya
Gumbo
Another simple dish you’ll see on many non-New Orleans restaurant menus is gumbo. As with jambalaya it’s a versatile dish, so you can create many variations for your own home. It’s in many ways akin to chili, though in many cases it’s a bit soupier and lighter. Still, it’s a great dish to really experiment and find your own sweet spot. As in most cases, it’s best to search around for a basic recipe and an exotic recipe, and then compare them. That should give you an idea of what you can do with your own gumbo. But if you’re looking for some traditional New Orleans gumbo, here’s a good one.
And if you want something a little heartier:
Crawfish Etouffee
This is something I’ve only had at restaurants, but it’s easy to imagine making it at home. It, like so many other New Orleans dishes, is normally served over a bed of rice. I always love this, because the rice absorbs some of the sauces, giving it its own flavor. The only problem with making this at home is that it might not be easy to find crawfish in your area. You might have to place an order online, at an outlet such as Louisiana Crawfish Company. Once you get those suckers, though, you’re in for a hearty and delicious meal.
King Cake
We finish off with a rich and filling dessert, King Cake. It might not seem like much, but this dough-based recipe is one of the most delicious desserts you’ll ever taste. It will definitely take some special shopping, but once you find the ingredients, at your supermarket or online, you’ll be able to finish off a traditional New Orleans meal with one of its stealthily decadent desserts.
Sandra Lee’s King Cake
Suzan Jackson’s King Cake
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m finding myself scouring the web for cheap flights and New Orleans hotels. Mardi Gras is, after all, just a little over a month away.
Joe Pawlikowski is the editor of Prepaid Reviews a site that provides news, commentary, and reviews of prepaid wireless services, such as Tracfone.



My friend Grace Becker has a long history of making money from what she’s good at – baking! Over at Dough Raising Mom she’s sharing great resources and advice for others who want to build a home based business around their love of the kitchen.

