When I saw the large artichokes stacked high at the produce stand, I knew in an instant that crabmeat-stuffed artichoke would be the perfect dish for my Sunday football party. It was time to get stuffing. Though hardly Cajun, globe artichokes are actually a cultivated variety of thistle. But, in the hands of an adventurous cook,…
Black Drum and Shrimp Salad
White flaky Gulf fish and jumbo Louisiana shrimp are seasoned and pan-sauteed to crown a well-dressed salad in this Black Drum and Shrimp Salad with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Dressing. BOOM! That’s the sound you’re sure to hear when you pass through Lake Charles, Louisiana—one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. The…
Chilled Seafood Salad with Two Dressings
Ice-cold shrimp and chilled lump crabmeat need nothing more than a tasty dressing or two to complete a casual springtime meal. And my recipe for Chilled Seafood Salad with Two Dressings keeps it simple and light—two ingredients for an easy dinner. Anytime Roxanne and I visit Biloxi, Mississippi, we make a beeline to our favorite…
Pulled Pork Tacos with Creole Crema
For Cinco de Mayo, South of the border meets South Louisiana in this Pulled Pork Tacos with Creole Crema–a taco taste sensation. I love how the citrus flavors of the orange-brined pork shoulder are elevated by the spike of jalapeños and Cajun seasoning that work so deliciously with farm-fresh vegetables. And the cool and creamy…
How To Build a Charcuterie Board For Your Next Party
So, what do you do when you don’t know what to cook? Don’t cook. Yes, I said it: This is a post on my food blog that’s advocating not to cook. No recipe, no pots and pans, no hot stovetop, and no fuss. This Charcuterie Board will change the way you think about entertaining with…
Grilled Tuna Salad Nicoise with Creole Citrus Vinaigrette
Salty, acidic, peppery and sweet are the defining taste elements of my Grilled Tuna Salad Nicoise with Creole Citrus Vinaigrette and taking a few tricks from my Cajun playbook of culinary techniques, I think we might have just elevated this French classic to another level. During past travels in southern France, Roxanne and I recall…
Salmon and Shrimp Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette
For a born and fed bayou boy like me, eating light in the summer makes up for the countless pounds of boiled crawfish I consumed this spring. And it gives me pause for the endless bowls of gumbo to come this fall. That’s why today’s fresh Salmon and Shrimp Salad featuring poached salmon and sautéed…
Crab and Avocado Napoleon with Spicy Citrus Salsa and Creole Green Goddess
More and more these days, I’m seeing traditional South Louisiana restaurants serving Cajun and Creole dishes with plate presentation techniques that impress. The days of a sprig of parsley and wedge of lemon are over. Simple things: a swish of sauce, a cedar plank fish, a scooped-out bread bowl, or even a “Frenched” bone exposed…
Cajun-Spiced Lettuce Cups with Vidalia Onion Relish
I must confess that, like many of you, I always start the year off with a goal of eating lighter, but living in Acadiana–ground zero for the most amazing food culture in America–it is a daunting task. So today I am offering a compromise of sorts: These Cajun-Spiced Lettuce Cups deliver on the spicy Cajun…
Fried Green Tomato Shrimp Rémoulade
When I glance at a menu and see anything featuring rémoulade sauce, I’m salivating. Usually, it’s a straightforward shrimp appetizer served on a bed of shredded iceberg that in the hands of a cook that has their rémoulade repertoire figured out is well worth ordering. But recently I was astounded to find a spin on shrimp rémoulade…