Just because you can’t make it to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras this year, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the festivities — and food — of the Big Easy at home. From savory crowd-pleasers like jambalaya, gumbo, and po’boys to traditional sweet treats like King Cake and bananas foster, these delicious New Orleans recipes are perfect for a Mardi Gras party at home or any time you want to let the good times roll.
1. Jambalaya with Andouille, Chicken, and Shrimp
Everyone will find something to love in this classic, one-pot rice dish. Andouille is a smokey, spicy sausage and its fat flavors the whole dish, so don’t skip it. Don’t forget to put out a bottle of Crystal or Tabasco hot sauce for guests!
Recipe: Food & Wine
2. Deep Fried Oyster Po’boy Sandwiches
Sure, this recipe is a little complicated, but it’s worth it. An electric deep fryer would make quick work of the fried oysters, but it isn’t necessary. The creamy remoulade adds a tangy, briny note to these rich and crunchy sandwiches.
Recipe: Food Network
3. New Orleans-style Red Beans and Rice
This is a very economical recipe, since the majority of it is dried beans. They’re flavored with smoky, tasty meats like andouille and ham hocks. Simmer it all together for a while and it’s a match made in heaven.
Recipe: Serious Eats
4. Muffuletta
Traditionally, muffulettas are big sandwiches on round loaves of bread that are cut into wedges for serving, so they’re perfect for parties. This recipe has you whip up a batch of your own olive salad, but you can also find it jarred at some grocery stores or Italian specialty shops.
Recipe: AllRecipes
5. Shrimp Creole
This shrimp dish is deceptively easy to make. It starts out with the holy trinity of Cajun cooking — onions, celery, and bell peppers — and has a tomato-based sauce seasoned with thyme and cayenne. Serve it over rice or with plenty of crusty French bread for dipping.
Recipe: Tastes Better From Scratch
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6. Barbecued Shrimp
Forget what you think of as barbecue sauce, because this recipe from famous NOLA chef Paul Prudhomme is nothing like that. Instead, it’s shell-on shrimp cooked in a butter sauce that’s heavy with seasoning, spice, and beer. Trust us, it’s amazing.
Recipe: Cajun Creole Chef
7. King Cake
A homemade king cake makes for a festive and impressive centerpiece for any kind of party. Choose from cinnamon or cream cheese filling, and cover the whole thing with frosting and colorful sugar. Don’t forget to tuck a little plastic baby inside for someone to find!
Recipe: House of Nash Eats
8. Crawfish Boil
You’ll need a huge pot for this big crawfish boil recipe, and an equally large newspaper-covered table to hold it all when it’s done. While that’s perfect for a crowd, you can also use this recipe as inspiration for a smaller boil that feeds fewer people.
Recipe: Southern Living
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9. Bananas Foster
Bananas Foster was created at Brennan’s restaurant in New Orleans, and though it’s pretty fast to make, it’s very impressive. Sliced bananas are cooked briefly in a butter, brown sugar, and rum sauce, with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Serve it all over vanilla ice cream for one of the best desserts ever.
Recipe: Tastes Better From Scratch
10. Gumbo with Chicken and Andouille
No Cajun gathering is complete without a big, comforting pot of gumbo. This recipe includes chicken and andouille for maximum flavor, and fresh okra which also acts as a natural thickener. Make sure you cook the roux to a deep chocolate brown for best results.
Recipe: Serious Eats
11. Hurricane Cocktail
What’s a party without a cocktail? In NOLA, you’ll see hurricanes everywhere. Make your own with light and dark rum, plus lots of fruit juices. Add a little bit of grenadine to the glass for a beautiful sunset color.
Recipe: Liquor.com
12. Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce
This is a very simple bread pudding recipe that you can customize however you like. It calls for chopped pecans, but you can add raisins instead, or even chocolate chips. The four-ingredient sauce is a must have, whether made with whisky, bourbon, or rum.
Recipe: AllRecipes
13. Roast Beef Debris Po’Boys
Debris is the name given to the bits of shredded, tender roast beef that fall into the gravy while cooking. It ends up on the sandwich in this garlic-studded roast beef. This is an Instant Pot recipe to save time, but you can also slow roast it in the oven or braise the beef in a slow cooker.
Recipe: Southern Living
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