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 lighter in the heat…
Gumbo Z’herbes
The heady aroma of fresh greens (collards, spinach, chard, and kale, to name a few) simmering on a stovetop is heavenly. And with just one bowl of this roux-infused Gumbo Z’herbes, you’re praying for a second helping. As in most culinary cultures, religion has an impact on the dishes of South Louisiana with gumbo z’herbes…
5-Bean Kale Soup
With the smokiness of ham and bacon as the backdrop for the assortment of beans, fresh kale, herbs, and spices, my 5-Bean Kale Soup is packed with soul-satisfying flavor. As south Louisiana comes out of hibernation, kale begins showing up at markets everywhere. And when the windy March chill sends you shivering, I pull out…
Red Bean, Mustard Green, and Green Onion Sausage Soup
Beans and greens mean winter to me. And this hearty soup filled with creamy red beans, bitter mustard greens, and acidic tomatoes can only be elevated with Cajun green onion pork sausage. I love the depth of flavor and spice in this Red Bean, Mustard Green, and Green Onion Sausage Soup. And I love the…
Carrot Ginger Soup + Instant Pot Option
When my overnight forecast calls for a record 16-degree low in South Louisiana, you know it’s time to bring out the soup pot. And this cold-weather recipe will become one of your all-time favorites. You might approach your first spoonful of this Carrot Ginger Soup with a bit of culinary doubt, but trust me. When…
Lentil, Leek, and Mirliton Soup
Beans are a South Louisiana tradition, and I’ve written much about red beans and white beans, and how they have multiple uses in the Cajun kitchen. But lentils don’t normally come to mind in the Cajun cooking conversation. Not sure why. Lentils are a tradition of French cooking, and the good folks at New Orleans-based…
How To Make A Dark Cajun Roux: The Story of Rox’s Roux
If you ask me, a dark Cajun roux is the secret ingredient that is the single most important building block of Cajun cooking. So important, that for your convenience, we developed a jarred product we call Rox’s Roux–the deepest, darkest, and richest commercially available roux. This product will add consistency and quality to any Cajun…
Guinea Gumbo
From the pages of my new 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 yesterday: the day, over 30…
Chicken Leg and Sausage Gumbo
It’s fall gumbo season, and time to break out the black iron pot and the rice cooker. The knob of juicy dark meat at the end of a chicken drumstick is my favorite cut of the bird, and when soaked for two hours in a rich roux-infused gumbo, these legs have me running to the…
Chicken and Smoked Sausage Gumbo
It’s Fat Monday, ya’ll! Lundi Gras (French for Fat Monday) ramps up the Mardi Gras holiday with a full schedule of parades, balls, and of course, the Courir de Mardi Gras—the rural Cajun celebration before the beginning of Lent. Break out your capuchon (a cone-shaped ceremonial hat), don a colorful mask, tank up with your…