Our Favorite Creole & Cajun Comfort Food Recipes
Featuring Red Beans and Rice, Pralines, and Crawfish Étouffée!
Louisiana holds a special place in our hearts. Not just because the food is AMAZING. But it’s where we tied the knot, right in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter.
It was Christmastime and everything was decorated with bells, bows, and holly. One of my favorite memories as newlyweds was driving up to Baton Rouge and sitting in the rain eating boudin balls at Tony’s Seafood. Perfection.
From the jambalaya, étouffée, and red beans and rice, to the boudin, crawfish boils, and gumbo, Louisiana’s Creole and Cajun cuisine has me in a chokehold. It’s comfort food at its best. I wasn’t even raised in the south, but I’d take a bowl of red beans and rice over chicken noodle soup any day.
So, here are three of our personal favorite recipes from the Big Easy: red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee, and pralines (pecan candy).
Let’s eat!
-Marrekus and Krysten
Red Beans and Rice
Red Beans and Rice is a comfort food dish that comes from Louisiana’s Creole tradition.
It’s made with red kidney beans, bell pepper, onion, and celery, Creole spices (thyme, cayenne pepper, bay leaf, etc.) and pork bones (typically left over from Sunday dinner), all cooked together slowly in a pot and served with white rice. Meats like andouille or tasso are also frequently used.
I’m kind of a RB&R snob, and I think mine are the best.
Pecan Candy
I’m a bit greedy and obsessed when it comes to this New Orleans praline recipe. A girlfriend of mine used to make them all the time using her family’s secret recipe. She’ll never tell, so I’ve resorted to testing and perfecting the ingredients over the years.
The recipe on our blog also features a bunch of step-by-step photos and a video to show what the consistency should be. We promise, you’ll love them!
Crawfish Étouffée
This crawfish étouffée recipe features meaty crawfish tails that are smothered in a flavorful, rich gravy made with a roux, the “holy trinity”, herbs, and spices. Pair it with rice and top with green onions and parsley for a complete dish.
A pro tip if you live outside of Louisiana: Some larger grocery stores (like Shoprite, Walmart) may carry frozen or packaged crawfish tail meat in the seafood section. You can also check with seafood markets in your area. As a last resort, buy crawfish tail meat through online seafood retailers. They often sell frozen or packaged crawfish that can be delivered to your doorstep.
For more free recipes, check out cookswithsoul.com.