Celebrate Mardi Gras with these 22 delicious New Orleans-inspired recipes.
Mardi Gras is celebrated with devotion throughout Louisiana and over in the Gulf states of Mississippi and Texas.
Carnivals and parades abound during Mardi Gras season, from Epiphany until Fat Tuesday.
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Mardi Gras Parade Krewes select their kings of Mardi Gras and put on elaborate float parades in their communities.
No celebration would be complete without food and drink, though, and Mardi Gras is no exception.
Partygoers usually have a cocktail, and boozy, fruity Hurricanes are notorious New Orleans favorites.
Elise Bauer
The shrimp stock is optional, but the amount of flavor it packs into this dish cant be beat.
Serve this etouffee with steamed white or brownrice.
Make this version with pork shanks or replace the pork with smoked turkey sausage.
Elise Bauer
Bananas Foster
Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
This classic American dessert originated in New Orleans.
It’s an easy and elegant dessert that impresses because you set it on fire before serving.
Bananas are coated in a butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon sauce.
Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
Add rum and set it on fire.
When the fire is out, serve with vanilla ice cream.
The sandwich is so large, it feeds four.
Simply Recipes / Lori Rice
You havent lived until youve done it at least once.
Serve these piping hot with a warm mug of your favorite chicory coffee for a true Louisiana experience.
The mayo-based remoulade shouldnt be skipped.
Cindy Rahe
Its creaminess is punctuated with spicy horseradish and tabasco.
A crispy baguette is the best vessel for carrying the juicy, breaded shrimp to your mouth.
It’s a simple dessert for Mardi Gras.
Elise Bauer
Chicken Gumbo with Andouille Sausage
Chicken gumbo with andouille sausage is another quintessential New Orleans recipe.
Hurricane Cocktail
Hurricane cocktails in New Orleans are served cheaply and in massive quantities.
Slow Cooker Jambalaya
Slow cooker jambalaya is a less hands-on version of the classic Creole recipe.
Irvin Lin
The rice and the shrimp are added in different stages.
Theyre brought together in a savory, mildly spicy tomato sauce loaded with chunks of chicken and sausage.
However, topping steamed rice with it has served as my dinner many an evening.
Sam Schick
This version is sweet and buttery.
Be sure to toast your pecan before using them in this recipe.
I find the candy turns out more flavorful that way.
Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Collard Greens with Bacon
Collard greens with bacon is definitely a cornerstone of Southern cooking.
Vieux Carre
Vieux Carre is a potent way to celebrate Mardi Gras.
I garnish mine with a dark cocktail cherry, but a twist of lemon peel works well, too.
Cambrea Bakes
Shrimp Creole
Alison Bickel / Simply Recipes
Shrimp Creole is a classic Louisiana dish.
It’s rustic with tomatoes, spices, and shrimp thats perfect for serving over rice.
Milk Punch
A New Orleans brunch standard, this milk punch is a cousin of eggnog.
Elise Bauer
A simple combination of rum, cognac, milk, and simple syrup.
It’s deceptively strong and memorably delicious.
Its tasty on its own, but even more so when served a la mode.
Andy Christensen
Nick Evans
Elise Bauer
Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Elise Bauer
Sam Schick
Alison Bickel / Simply Recipes
Alison Bickel / Simply Recipes
Gabe Rodriguez
Jessica Gavin
