Cajun Food: AI-HEEEE, Dis Some Good,Yeah, I Garontee It

TRAVELING DOWN THE BAYOU

WITH SOME GREAT CAJUN FOOD

Cajun food is among the tastiest foods in the world. Each dish is unique but share a distinctive

flavor.

They were not well received by the French Aristocracy in New Orleans, most of them were forced to settle in the swampy areas to the west and south of the city. While they were used to the same French food as the French Aristocracy they were forced to adapt these recipes to the ingredients they could grow in the swamps and the game and seafood available locally.

Some of the more popular of these ingredients are shrimp, oysters and other seafood, alligator, crawfish, duck, turkey, chicken, turtle and pork. Crawfish and shrimp are probably the most popular of these. Rice is a staple; many dishes are served over rice.

A lot of the dishes use onions (Properly pronounced “aw-yaw”), bell pepper and celery, usually sautéed together. This combination is known as the “Trinity” or “Cajun Trinity” and may be referred to as such in some recipes.

Many Cajun food dishes contain a roux. A roux is a mix of oil and flour, about equal parts, which is cooked to the desired color and texture. To this are added spices, meat, and/or vegetables. The roux serves as a thickening agent for these dishes as well as adding texture.

Etouffee is one of the more popular dishes. Etouffee is a seafood dish usually containing shrimp, crawfish or crabmeat. It is cooked in a blond roux and is fairly spicy. As with several other Cajun dishes it is served over rice.

Gumbo is another popular dish. Gumbo is served over rice. Like etouffee, it uses a roux but is in a dark roux and is less spicy. Gumbo also may contain meats other than seafood.

Jambalaya does not contain a roux. The meat, usually sausage and chicken, is browned in a pot and a little vegetable oil added, then vegetables (the Cajun Trinity) are added, in the Creole version tomatoes are added but the Cajun version does not contain tomatoes. Then stock and spices are added and simmered for at least an hour, then rice is added and the mixture cooked until the rice is done.

Click on the links on this page for more good Cajun Food Recipes, and where to find good authentic Cajun food as well as information on the Cajun people and culture.