Whether you’re celebrating Fat Tuesday or just looking to mix up your weeknight routine, tonight is a great excuse for a New Orleans-style feast. Make this dinner one to remember with these handpicked recipes, featuring Cajun and Creole favorites like grilled oysters, Jambalaya and, of course, Beignets (but with a seafood twist). We’ve rounded up some of our favorite Mardi Gras recipes from our two special New Orleans episodes from season 3 and season 4 and a local recipe that was too good not to include!
B.B. Lemon’s Blue Crab Beignets
Photo Credit: Kirsten Gilliam
Crispy, rich and savory, these poppable Blue Crab Beignets will make for the perfect starter to your Mardi Gras feast. B.B Lemon in Houston serves theirs with an entire crab claw right in the middle like a little lollipop and they’re so good. You’ll forget all about those sweet powdered sugar ones.
Cochon’s Grilled Oysters with Garlic-Chile Butter
Oysters on the half-shell are great, but when they’re grilled in a spicy garlic butter, they’re absolutely heavenly. James Beard-winning Chef Stephen Stryjewski’s award-winning restaurant, Cochon, makes them bubbling hot with fresh lemon. Don’t forget the French bread to soak up the leftover butter.
Mother’s Restaurant Jerry’s Jambalaya
Photo Credit: Mother’s Restaurant
Mother’s Restaurant is a New Orleans classic and home to the “World’s Best Ham”, but their entire menu is full of incredible Creole dishes. Jerry’s Jambalaya, named after the co-owner, is a must-eat take on the Louisiana dish and full of aromatic herbs and smoked sausage.
Mr. B’s Bistro BBQ Shrimp
Photo Credit: Mr. B’s Bistro
No need to break out your grill for this dish. In New Orleans, barbecued shrimp means sautéed in Worcestershire-spiked butter sauce. Mr. B’s, famous for these suckers, serves them with heads and tails on — and always with a bib! The biggest trick for making yours taste like the restaurant’s version is to not skimp on the butter.
The Ruby Slipper Cafe’s Bananas Foster Pain Perdu
Butter, bananas and rum – oh my! This boozy Pain Perdu recipe from Ruby Slipper Café will have you wondering how you ever made French Toast any other way. Satisfy your sweet tooth with this breakfast spin on a Bananas Foster, created by another NOLA icon, Brennan’s.
I am loving the recipes!!!!!!!. I’ve been cooking most of my life and love to try new dishes. In fact, I’m ALWAYS cooking NEW dishes still.
My husband and I are in our 70’s. It is so nice to have the recipes for places we cannot visit. We watch every week. I wish HEB carrieed Goya olive oil, but I can get it at Target.
Virginia
Thanks so much for the feedback, Virginia. You might consider asking your HEB store manager to bring in the Goya olive oil. It’s my favorite too!