|
|
|
Cajun and Creole
You don’t have to be a historian to figure out the differences in Creole and Cajun cooking. We’ve broken it down into its simplest form. Creole cuisine uses a rich array of European ingredients and has its origins in recipes like French bouillabaisse, Spanish paella, and German sausage. Cajun cuisine, on the other hand, is traditionally composed of one-pot meals enriched with the pungent flavors of fresh seafood and game.
Cajun cooking comes from exiled French and French-Canadian refugees who found a new home in South Louisiana. Armed with black iron pots, the Cajuns utilized what was indigenous to the area. While the Cajuns made no attempt to duplicate exactly the classic dishes of Europe, they did adapt those recipes and incorporated techniques learned from Native American and African cooking they encountered in Louisiana, adding the abundant fish, shellfish, and wild game of the region.
Creole cooking draws from French, Spanish, German and Italian cooking and combines with local foods and spices to create a style of cooking that is all its own.
While Creole and Cajun fare are very different, they also have a lot in common. Rice is a staple in both, and both start most dishes with a roux. There are also shared ingredients like crab, shrimp, oyster, crawfish, fish, squirrel, turkey, duck, turtle, pork, sausage, beans, tomatoes, okra, yams and wine.
An insider tip: They’re both delicious. Stop thinking about it and dig in.
|
|
|
| > Crabmeat and Shrimp Fritters with Creole Tomato Dressing |
Recipe courtesy of Executive Chef John Besh of Restaurant August, New Orleans. |
| Rating: |
|
Prep time:15 min. |
Cook time:15 min. |
|
|
|
|
| > Crabmeat Au Gratin |
This recipe does double duty as a main dish or as a appetizer, served with toasted French bread or crackers. |
| Rating: |
|
Prep time:15 min. |
Cook time:30 min. |
|
|
|
|
| > Crawfish Beignets |
Leftover crawfish from a crawfish boil are usually peeled and used to prepare etouffee, bisque or beignets. |
| Rating: |
|
Prep time:15 min. |
Cook time:15 min. |
|
|
|
|
| > Olivia's Spicy Mardi Gras Shrimp |
Make this delightful party appetizer early in the day so the shrimp can blend with the flavors in the sauce. |
| Rating: |
|
Prep time:30 min. |
Cook time:10 min. |
|
|
|
|
| > Zatarain's® Creole Mustard Dip |
Serve this flavorful dip with cut-up vegetables or your favorite chips. |
| Rating: |
|
Prep time:5 min. |
Cook time: min. |
|
|
|
|