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You don’t have to take a trip to New Orleans or walk along Bourbon Street to celebrate the spirit of Mardi Gras this year.  Turn your home into New Orleans West and invite friends and families over for a fun night of fabulous food.   Grab some green and purple party favors and invite everyone to make their own Mardi Gras masks because everyone is sure to be in the spirit with these delicious Cajun dishes made with fresh Arizona ingredients.

• Set the mood from the very beginning by putting out an arrangement of these amazing appetizers for your guests to nibble on as everyone arrives.
  • Creamy Cajun Deviled Eggs
  • Mardi Gras Gator Meatballs
  • Crawfish Dip
  • Shrimp Remoulaude
• If there is one thing that is synonymous with Cajun cooking, it has to be Gumbo and you just can’t have a proper Mardi Gras meal without serving up some of these great Gumbo recipes.
  • Seafood Gumbo
  • Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
  • Fire Roasted Vegetarian Gumbo
  • Shrimp and Okra Gumbo
  • Catfish Gumbo
• It is almost as important to have some spicy Jambalaya on your Mardi Gras menu as it is to have gumbo.  Try one or two of these great Jambalaya recipes or make your own version.  The basic recipe is to make a roux, add all your favorite stuff plus some rice!  You can’t go wrong.
  • Cajun Jambalaya
  • Shrimp Jambalaya
  • Easy Cajun Jambalaya
  • Chicken, Shrimp, and Andouille Jambalaya
  • Creole Jambalaya
• There are also other delicious Cajun dishes that you can use to fill out your Mardi Gras menu.
  • Shrimp Étouffée
  • Louisiana Red Beans and Rice
  • Blackened Catfish
  • Mini Muffulettas
  • Shrimp and Okra Hushpuppies
• It just wouldn’t be Mardi Gras without dishes filled with traditional desserts decorating the table.  Here are some of the ways you can use tasty and traditional Mardi Gras desserts to infuse your meal with the spirit of Mardi Gras
  • King Cake– This is a special cake that was traditionally part of celebrating Epiphany.   Don’t forget to hide a plastic baby in the batter!
  • Beignets– These amazing little bits of heaven are great at dessert or really anytime.
• Don’t forget to feature some of the most famous drinks found along Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras.  If you are looking for authenticity, your Mardi Gras meal will miss the mark if you don’t offer up these cool refreshments to your guests.
  • The Hurricane – Created by the famous Pat O’Brien’s pub located in the French Quarter, this drink is served in a specially shaped glass that resembles a hurricane lamp.  It also packs quick a punch when made properly.
  • The Sazerac – A true New Orleans original featuring rye whisky in an absinthe-coated glass
  • The Vieux Carre  – Full of booze, both sweet and bitter, smooth just like the city it comes from.

Also, don’t miss these two favorite recipes from the Romeros, Arizona’s own Cajun chefs!

• Fried Crawfish 
  
• Crawfish Celery Dip

Related articles

• Celebrate Mardi Gras Like a Cajun (fillyourplate.org)
• 30 Ways to Use Rice (fillyourplate.org)
• 50 Things to Do With Chicken (fillyourplate.org)