Cane-Brined Roast Turkey
I love turkey. It is dependable, versatile, affordable, and delicious cooked in so many great Cajun and Creole interpretations. But for many cooks, a turkey sandwich is about as close as they get to the bird all year long. And anxiety sets in as the calendar rolls around to September, October, November, and finally the…
French Mustard-Braised Rabbit
Smothered down in a wine-infused braise of two mustards, the rich white meat of rabbit cooks low and slow in this tart and tantalizing combination of flavors. It’s Louisiana French meets European French in this French Mustard-Braised Rabbit recipe. The people of South Louisiana have many … [Read More...]
Guinea Gumbo
From the pages of my latest cookbook Fresh From Louisiana: The Soul of Cajun and Creole Home Cooking, this Guinea Gumbo recipe is an old-school Cajun classic. Steeped in tradition and infused with rich gumbo flavors, every spoonful defines the art of Cajun cooking. I remember it like it was … [Read More...]
Crawfish and Pumpkin Bisque
As Halloween and Thanksgiving approach, this hearty Crawfish and Pumpkin Bisque defines the holiday season in Acadiana for me and represents the best of rural farm-to-table sourcing. Combining the sweet tail meat of crawfish and fresh seasonal corn cut from the cob, it is certainly a winning … [Read More...]
Butternut And Shrimp Pasta
Autumn in Acadiana is when fresh squash, pumpkin, and gourds of all kind begin showing up at the local farmers markets. It always puts me in the mood for a delicious recipe featuring those flavors, and with this Butternut And Shrimp Pasta dish, I can't think of a better way to usher in the fall … [Read More...]
Pork Mignons with Pears
Medallions of pork brined in pear nectar and wrapped in smoky bacon are just the start of this showstopper of a dish. Sauce it with fresh red pears laced with a punch of sage, and you have a recipe to remember. You can find pork tenderloin in most supermarkets, and this convenient item is the … [Read More...]
Fried Oyster Sandwich on Brioche Bun
This sandwich is perfection on a bun. Crispy, flash-fried Louisiana oysters nestled in a soft, brioche-type bun, studded with jalapeno peppers and slathered with sauce. It is crave-worthy indeed. Rachael’s Cafe in Lafayette, Louisiana, is home to this sandwich perfection. Just off busy … [Read More...]
White Beans with Hambone: The Instant Pot Version
Smoky, meaty, warming, and filling with a depth of Cajun spice, my White Beans infused with a flavor-packed hambone is comfort in a bowl. There are times that my sole purpose for baking a whole bone-in ham is for the hambone. While I don’t profess that you go to that extreme, I do expect that … [Read More...]
Louisiana Oyster Skillet
Your taste buds light up with the first bite into a plump Louisiana oyster releasing its briny Gulf flavor and combining with a creamy, liqueur-infused sauce for a taste explosion that makes you reach for more. It’s the perfect appetizer or party dish. What’s even better is that this … [Read More...]
Teal Stuffed with Mustard Greens and Sweet Potatoes
This hunting lodge recipe for Teal Stuffed with Mustard Greens and Sweet Potatoes combines everything I love about the glorious Cajun foodways I write about. This dish takes flight in a tough wild duck stuffed with aromatics, greens, and the sweet kiss of Louisiana yams. It’s slow-simmered in a … [Read More...]
Tomato Cheese Tart
One bite of the flaky piecrust infused with herbs and cheeses and topped deliciously with ripe heirloom tomatoes will unlock your taste buds and send them to that delicious culinary hiding place in your brain. You know where I mean, and you know that you don’t visit that place as often as you like, … [Read More...]
Overstuffed Fried Crawfish Po’Boy
It’s the crispy crunch of the first bite into this sandwich that signals all the good things to come. It’s sensory overload when hot, right-out-of-the-fryer crawfish tails meet the perfectly dressed French bread loaf in the po’boy of my dreams—the Overstuffed Fried Crawfish Po’Boy. Whenever I … [Read More...]
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Sunday dinner is for basic, comfort food, and my wife, Roxanne, brought out the bells this past weekend. There is something about the sweet flavor of bell peppers stuffed with a meaty medley of pork, beef, aromatics, herbs, and spices that rings true to the culture of Cajun cooking. This is a recipe … [Read More...]
Jacked Up Short Ribs
So, here’s the long and short of it. I am short rib obsessed. There is something about this underrated cut of beef that I love. It is incredibly versatile, and I use it for everything from burgers to a center of the plate entrée like this Jacked Up Short Ribs. This recipe (he makes it with … [Read More...]
Summer Squash Soup
Slow simmered and puréed into a smooth, bisque-like creaminess, my Summer Squash Soup explodes with the fresh flavors of the season. Spiced with a light hand, I love how the vegetables shine brightly with just a hint of mint and the gentle bite of sweet onion. While I confess to eating … [Read More...]
Cajun Seafood Gumbo
The very first spoonful of this soul-satisfying brew is the essence of the fall season in Cajun country. With bold flavors of Louisiana seafood (oysters, shrimp, and crab) harvested from nearby Gulf waters and crawfish from inland ponds, it is further intensified with dark roux, smoked sausage, and … [Read More...]