Black Bean Soup
I’ve had a lifelong Latin love affair with frijoles negros (black beans)—a dark and mysterious recipe that I just can’t get enough of. And once you’ve loaded a spoonful of my steaming hot Black Bean Soup topped with a cold dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of red onions and chopped cilantro, you’ll become a Latin…
Orzo, Shrimp and Kale Salad
More and more, I see orzo pasta showing up on the Acadiana table of folks who didn’t even know it existed a few years ago. Cajun and Creole home cooks are a stubborn bunch who hold to Cajun recipe tradition more so than most cultures. But in my Orzo, Shrimp and Kale Salad recipe, this ingredient … [Read More...]
Cajun Cabbage Casserole
Just in time for your New Years' menu planning, this meaty side dish keys on the flavor of cabbage smothered down in a smoky, spicy casserole. Unlike any cabbage dish you’ve tasted before, this one will call you back for seconds. Cabbage plays a popular role in Cajun and Creole cooking with … [Read More...]
Baked Mirliton Squash with Shrimp Stuffing
Just in time for Christmas, this just might be the perfect South Louisiana dish. Whether as a side dish or a main course, these shrimp-stuffed mirliton are delicious. I like how the smokey tasso ham balances the briny taste of the shrimp in this mirliton stuffing. Come to think of it, I'm not … [Read More...]
A Christmas Tradition: Crown Roast of Pork
Christmas dinner menu planning is underway, and on my Acadiana table, there is no more dramatic presentation than a crown roast of pork in all its regal glory. This cut of meat always wows your guests for several reasons. Beyond the center-of-the-table showcase for the roast, the meat surrounding … [Read More...]
Pomegranate Spritzer
Just in time for the party season, I'm bringing back my favorite drink recipe. If ever there were a drink to define the holidays, it is this Pomegranate Spritzer: the colors of red and green, the fragrance of fruit and evergreen, and the taste of a sweet present under the tree. This Pomegranate … [Read More...]
Braised Beef Shanks with Parsley Pecan Pesto
Let’s cut to the meat of this story--whole sectional cuts of beef are irresistible to me. They harken back to pioneer days and more rustic farm-style butchering techniques. But beef shanks are rarely seen whole in the supermarket. My guess is that retailers fear that timid customers will panic … [Read More...]
Creole Smothered Green Beans with Andouille Sausage
This Creole Smothered Green Beans is the one you’ll always see on our holiday table. It’s simply green beans straight out of a can, but it’s uncanny how these green beans--sautéed up in smoky bacon grease, smothered down in spicy andouille, and spiked with Cajun seasonings--will bring “thanks” to … [Read More...]
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, … [Read More...]
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...]