An iconic side dish of Cajun cuisine is rice dressing, commonly referred to as dirty rice, made from a Cajun recipe featuring seasoning and spices along with pork liver. You won’t see a meat-and-three plate lunch without a scoop of the stuff–it’s practically a food group in Acadiana. Here in South Louisiana, commercial dirty rice…
White Beans Supreme with Ham Shank, Tasso and Smoked Pigtails over White Rice
Every once in a while, I like to get back to basics like my recipe for White Beans Supreme. It’s a simple Cajun recipe with easy preparation and satisfying results. It’s no-fuss, home-style, comfort food that is heart-warming and sticks to your soul like white on rice. Beans and rice are a staple of every…
Short Ribs with Coffee Gravy
Braised on the bone, these English-cut Short Ribs with Coffee Gravy are dripping with the dark, earthy flavors of the Louisiana terroir they come from. The thick, rich, savory gravy with the smell of dark roast coffee has a slight edge of sticky sweetness from the sugarcane molasses that balances this dish. It’s not only…
When Life Gives You Lemons, Spike It With Rum
While a big pitcher of homemade lemonade brings genteel Southern credibility to any backyard gathering, I profess that adding a splash (or two) of rum to the tall glass can only lengthen the slow drawl of the conversation. And clipping fresh sprigs of rosemary to add to the mix brings fragrance to the nose while…
Fresh Ham Roast
Ginger-kissed with a mustard-glazed sweetness, this fresh ham roast is a revelation of how juicy, flavorful, and succulent this cut of pork can be. But, the key to it is in getting to know your farmer, and learning how he cares, feeds, and humanely raises his livestock. It is the essence of sustainability in eating…
Pecan-Smoked Lamb Shanks with Sweet Potato Risotto
At the first sign of cold weather, most men instinctively crave large slabs of meat. Not sure why. Maybe the caveman in all of us, or the need to store up protein for a long winter hibernation. Or maybe I’m just overthinking this. Yes, come to think about it, I crave it year round. Lamb…
Beer-Braised Smoked Sausage Po’Boy with Griddled Vidalia Onions and Sauce Duo
Smoked sausage is a familiar food item throughout Acadiana, and not a festival goes on without a booth serving up a smoked sausage po’boy. This Cajun recipe doesn’t get any simpler and don’t look for me to complicate it…much. First, the basics: My bread is classic–a soft po’boy bun from Evangeline Maid Bread in Lafayette….
Strawberry Cobbler with Chambord Whipped Cream
Nothing beats fresh strawberries in season, and here in South Louisiana, we are blessed with an abundance of the crop. I like them chilled over a bowl of corn flakes, crowning a big ol’ biscuit topped with ice cream, or whole berries dipped in chocolate—there’s no end to the ways I enjoy strawberries. But here…
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…
Kale Caesar with Grilled Shrimp
For the past few years, fresh kale has been on a run showing up on restaurant menus all over America. Even here at my Acadiana Table, I’ve tossed it into soups, braised it in stews and served it pan sautéed as a side dish. So, this weekend I stumbled on a neat trick while making…