Two words: Mardi Gras. For those of you who may not know, the extravagant celebration begins on February 12^th in New Orleans. “Mardi Gras,” also known as “Fat Tuesday,” is traditionally celebrated as the feast before the fast. Mardi Gras has been a long-time celebrated event, drawing millions of fun-seekers to New Orleans every year. To say the event is grand would be an understatement, with balls, colorful parades, hundreds of beads, delicious food and millions of people looking for fun.

This holiday is the time to forget about that New Year’s resolution for the day and dig in to some mouthwatering dishes from the south. You don’t have to visit the Big Easy to enjoy its legendary dishes full of Creole and Cajun flavor. For those of you celebrating Mardi Gras at your home, let us help you celebrate Fat Tuesday with these Mardi Gras recipes!

Muffuletta. A New Orlean’s class sandwich loaded with ham, salami, provolone and an olive spread. 

Bayou Fried Shrimp. You can’t have a Mardi Gras party without fried food. 

Cajun Chicken Pasta. This entrée is easy, delicious and filled with vegetables. 

Creole Jambalaya. This bold dish is filled with smoked sausage, ham and red pepper. 

Cajun Corn Maque Choux. This 8 ingredient appetizer is a quick and zesty accompaniment to your Mardi Gras menu. 

Spicy Remoulade Sauce. This sauce has a spicy kick to it and will go perfectly with fried shrimp, crab cakes or sandwiches.  

Hot Crawfish Dip. It would not be a complete Mardi Gras meal without crawfish!  

Cajun Bloody Mary. Who doesn’t love a Bloody Mary? Add a little spice to it and your guests will love it. 

Beignets: Delicious beignets dusted with confectionary sugar and chicory coffee. 

Traditional King Cake. If you are throwing a Mardi Gras party, a king cake is essential. This tradition cake is similar to coffee cake and rich in color and taste. 

We hope you enjoy these dishes as much as we do! Enjoy and happy Mardi Gras!