Mardi Gras is a special time of the year down in Cajun Country. Even if you don't live down in New Orleans you can still rejoice in some of the fun and revelry associated with Mardi Gras by throwing a grand old meal worthy of King Rex himself.
The trick about bringing Mardi Gras to the Midwest or wherever you may be, is to always have the mindset that makes Mardi Gras such fun and an enjoyable event for people from all over the world. If that doesn't work a bowl or two of gumbo topped off with some Mardi Gras music should do the trick quite nicely.
Seriously though, part of the charm and intrigue of Mardi Gras and the city of New Orleans is the cuisine that has made this city almost as famous as its ability to party. If you are wondering what to cook to bring the spirit of Mardi Gras into your home, try any of the traditional favorites. If ingredients prove tricky to come by you might want to add a little rice, a little spice, and a lot of hot sauces to your favorite family meal.
Those who live in New Orleans often use rice to stretch the food. Rice is filling and is cost effective. This makes rice a great foundation of a meal for many of the families of New Orleans many of whom have been quite poor traditionally.
Rice is used in all kinds of dishes from gumbo to red beans and jambalaya and many dishes in between. It is almost certainly the one staple of Cajun cooking that you will find everywhere you go.
Otherwise, there are wide variances in cookery according to cost and culture (though the more expensive foods are typically considered Creole rather than Cajun. Sort of a city cousin - country cousin type relationship between the cuisines).
Spices are prevalent in these dishes for much the same reason that rice is. They have traditionally been an inexpensive method of seasoning food that would otherwise be quite insipid. Expect to find plenty of spices and some heat in most traditional Cajun dishes all over the city. Some restaurants that cater to tourists have slightly watered down versions of local favorites.
If you want to try something with a little less kick, a po-boy or muffaletta might be what you are looking for. These sandwiches are more than a little deceiving in appearance because they are very filling. French fries are still a Cajun favorite, although we also have a popular dish called fried sweet potatoes.
You can find recipes for all of these online quite easily though you will probably have trouble finding the ideal bread for a po boy anywhere outside the Crescent City. There is a unique "chewiness" to the flawless po boy bread that may be imitated elsewhere but not equaled anywhere in the country.
For the perfect finish to your Cajun cooking you should make a point of getting some chicory coffee. This is easily accomplished via the Cafe du Monde website if your local coffee shop doesn't have any. Historically, chicory was added to coffee and often used instead of coffee because it was much cheaper.
This meant it could make the more expensive coffee beans go further and yet deliver a similar taste and texture with that hint of chicory. It's a somewhat unique flavor and for many people is synonymous with the city itself.
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Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with researching the
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