Exploring The Culinary Back Roads Of Louisiana And Mississippi

If you want to embark on a culinary adventure, consider traveling the back roads of Louisiana and Mississippi.  What better way to immerse yourself into a different culture then to dig into the cuisine of the local eateries?

This is a fun way to experience new and enticing flavors to delight your taste buds.  Some of the best places to find that distinctive down home taste of the South is off the beaten path.  So, fill up the gas tank and make sure you’re good and hungry, then see where the back roads take you! 

Local Food Festivals

Dishes typical of Louisiana Creole cuisine. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

No matter where you are in the South, you can tell food is a huge part of the culture.  People celebrate their love of food by holding festivals throughout the year.  Locals and tourists alike can experience everything there is to offer in southern cuisine by just taking off down the road.  If you smell food in the air, there's probably a festival going on somewhere.  Just follow your nose! 

Visitors can participate as 'taste testers' in gumbo, jambalaya, sausage, sweet potato pie, or barbeque cook-offs just about anytime of year.  Crawfish boils are going on in just about every roadside joint in the region.  And, we can’t forget about Mardi Gras.  Even though the big celebration you may hear about takes place in New Orleans, almost every little town in the region has some sort of celebration during the week before Lent.

Culinary Trails

Over the years there have been a number of culinary trails created to showcase the local food and heritage.  These trails span across the states and give visitors the chance to experience the cuisine of that specific area.  Cooks in the region come together and promote their culture, bringing stories of past history to life with their food.  You not only get to experience the cuisine in a different light, but meet the people behind these amazing dishes. 

Mississippi. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In Mississippi check out 'The Delta' trail, which contains such a mixture of many different people and their cultures that each dish shows off the diverse history and culinary abilities.  In Louisiana you will find yourself immersed in the heritage along trails like the 'Bayou Bounty.'  Both of these destinations will give your tastes buds their own little holiday.

Ask the Locals

The locals love to express and share their passion for food and will have no problem giving you suggestions on what to eat and where to find it.  Be prepared to take the side roads if you are serious about immersing yourself in Southern cuisine.  It’s not uncommon to find some of the best dishes you'll ever enjoy this way.

Get out your maps and plug in your GPS.  Be spontaneous, prepare yourself for the back roads, and experience all the tasty cuisine and intriguing culture these Southern states have to offer!

Recipe: Pecan Praline Macaroons

For dessert, or a special treat, try these Louisiana-inspired treats! New Orleans is famous for it's pecan pralines, and this easy and scrumptious recipe shows you why. This one is a twist on the classic praline, and it's so simple you'll want to make it again and again.

Pecan Praline Macaroons
(Makes about 24 macaroons.)

(Photo credit: Pomax)

Ingredients:

3 large egg whites, room temperature
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 cup pecans, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a cold mixing bowl, put the egg whites and beat with a mixer until they form peaks. Then, with mixer running, slowly add in the brown sugar, beating until you get stiff peaks.
3. Carefully fold in the pecans using a rubber spatula.
4. On a cookie sheet, drop heaping teaspoons of mixture allowing for room to spread.
5. Bake in preheated over for 30.  Keep your eye on them.  You want the macaroons to be hard and still shiny.
6. Remove and allow to cool at room temperature on a cooling rack.

Recipe: Cajun Shrimp Italiano

This delicious Cajun recipe highlights some of Louisiana's Italian roots, with the use of local seafood, Italian seasonings, wine, and Cajun spices. Makes a delicious, quick and simple, yet impressive appetizer to serve guests!

Cajun Shrimp Italiano
(Serves 4 as an appetizer.)

Ingredients:

1 cup olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed or chopped
1 tsp Cajun seasoning blend
3 bay leaves
4 garlic cloves, grated
2 lbs large size fresh Louisiana shrimp, cleaned and butterflied
1 cup dry white wine
crusty bread for dipping

Directions:

1. In a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil and all the seasonings and cook for just 30 seconds, stirring, until garlic gets fragrant, then immediately add shrimp and fry fast until shrimp is just nice and pink; this will take about 6 or 7 minutes tops.
2. Turn heat down to medium-low and slowly stir in the wine.
3. Simmer gently (turn heat down more if you need to) until the liquid is reduced by about 1/3 to 1/2.
4. Dump the shrimp and all the juice into a large bowl, and serve down-home style with a pile of crusty bread for sopping up the juice.

Learn About Cooking - Louisiana Style

Louisiana is synonymous with Creole and Cajun cuisine.  When these terms come to mind, many think of hot and spicy food that will make you break out in a sweat if you attempt to eat them.  The flavor, however, is what really sets this type of cuisine apart from the rest.  If you’re going to cook a meal Louisiana style, you have to know what ingredients and techniques go into it.  What makes this style of cooking so different from everything else?  Let's take a look.

Spices and Seasonings

Locals use a unique blend of spices and seasonings to give their food a specific bite and flavor exclusive to the region.  A mixture of spices is often used in order to make sure the flavor of one spice does not dominate the other.   A few spices and seasonings you may recognize are cayenne pepper, file powder, cumin, thyme, and parsley.   Each one adds a special touch all its own, but when combined creates a meal bursting with warm, rich flavor.

Location

A traditional Creole/Cajun cuisine crawfish étouffée. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Due to the closeness to the Gulf of Mexico and other waterways, Louisiana cooks use a variety of seafood in their cuisine.  With easy access to shrimp, crab, oysters, and a variety of fish, it only makes sense that many specialties include seafood.   Louisiana cooks also rely heavily on the abundance of Southern crops such as okra, assorted greens, and sweet potatoes.   When combining all these resources together, you have a distinct cuisine that cannot be found anywhere else.

Influences

There are a multitude of cultural influences that have contributed to the distinct taste of Louisiana cuisine.  These unique dishes have a touch of French, Spanish,  African, Native American, and Italian influence, just to name a few.  The cooking expertise from these different cultures, combined with the local Southern influences, bring about the evolution of this distinct cooking style.

Cooking Techniques

When you visit the South, you will notice a good deal of deep fried food.  Just think about fried chicken and you can't help but picture a Southern kitchen.  The term 'barbeque' can mean smoked and slow-cooked just as it could mean cooked with dry rubbed seasonings or sauces.  It's all about the method.  A good Southern cook will have a container for saving bacon grease nearby the stove.  You'll find pastries and pie crusts baked with lard.  Many dishes begin with a dark roux and the Holy Trinity of onion, celery, and green pepper.  These methods are tried-and-true and most Louisiana cooks are wary of straying too far from the basics they learned from their ancestors.

When learning to cook like a Louisiana native, it’s important to immerse yourself in the culture and the techniques.  There are tons of resources including recipes books, the internet, and cooking classes that will help you learn what you need to know.  Everyone has their own cooking style, so there may be a few things you do differently.  But, keep the basics and you'll be able to create a variety of Louisiana cuisine to impress your family and friends... and perhaps even a few locals!

Learn More About Louisiana Cooking:
   

Recipe: Bourbon Black Strap Pecan Pie

Nothing says Louisiana like a good old-fashioned pecan pie, but the distinctive flavors of bourbon and black strap molasses in this version will make it a treat your taste-buds are not likely to forget! Like most pecan pie recipes, this one is pretty simple to prepare - just remember to make it ahead of time, as it will need to have time to cool and set before it's ready to eat.

Bourbon Black Strap Pecan Pie

Ingredients:

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3/4 cup black strap molasses
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 tsp salt
3 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup bourbon
1 1/2 cups pecan halves
1 unbaked 9 inch pie crust

Directions: 

1. Place oven rack in the middle position of oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Flour a work surface, lay pie crust out, and roll until smoothed out, then gently place in 9 inch pie pan, crimp edges and set aside.
3. In a saucepan, put the molasses, brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, and salt. Set on stove burner on medium heat. Stir mixture until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved.
4. Turn heat up and bring mixture to a gentle boil; let boil undisturbed for 1 minute.
5. Remove immediately from heat and pour into a bowl; set aside to cool to room temperature.
6. When the molasses/sugar mixture is cooled, add the beaten eggs, vanilla, and bourbon, whisking to combine.
7. Add the pecans and fold in with a spatula or large spoon.
8. Pour the mixture into the pie crust.
9. Bake in preheated oven until the filling is set, about 55 to 60 minutes.
10. The pie is done when the crust is golden brown, the filling is dark in color, the edges are solid, and the center doesn't jiggle a lot when you give the pie pan a wiggle.
11. Remove and cool completely at room temperature before serving.

Recipe: Crawfish Gumbo Omelet

When you think of Louisiana cooking, crawfish and gumbo immediately come to mind, but this recipe gives a regular old omelet a unique twist with true Cajun flair! A great way to use leftover crawfish (which isn't always so tasty the next day on its own), this easy dish makes a great lunch or light supper.

Crawfish Gumbo Omelet
(Serves 2-3.)

Steamed crawfish. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup diced green bell pepper
1/4 cup diced celery
1/4 cup diced onion
1 Tbsp flour
1 can (15 oz) stewed tomatoes   
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
3/4 to 1 lb. cleaned crawfish meat
5 eggs, beaten
3 Tbsp heavy cream
pinch cayenne
salt and black pepper to taste
oil or butter to cook omelet

Directions:

1. Heat butter in a saucepan over medium heat until butter melts, then add the green bell pepper, celery, and onion, stirring and cooking until vegetables just start to soften.
2. Sprinkle the flour over and stir constantly until sauce forms and thickens and flour cooks and turns golden yellow.
3. Add the stewed tomatoes and tomato paste in saucepan, stir and cook until tomatoes are heated through.
4. Reduce heat to low, add the crawfish and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring often; keep warm.
5. In separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
6. Put a skillet over medium-low heat, add enough oil or butter to cook the omelet (about 2 Tbsp) and heat the oil until just hot.
7. Gently pour the egg mixture into the skillet; shift the pan around and lift the edges to allow for the wet egg mixture to seep under and set up.
8. When eggs in skillet are just set, spoon the crawfish filling into the center, fold omelet over, remove from heat, cover skillet and let sit for 1 minute. Serve hot.

Louisiana Celebrates - Food & Festivals Around The State

If you want to learn about a region's culture, eat their food and join in their festivals!  When a state celebrates, you get a serious taste of what the local history is all about.  When you dive into the cuisine of a local festival, listen to their music, and listen to the people, you can't help but hear the heartbeat of a region.

The state of Louisiana has more than her fair share of festivals.  Louisiana has been referred to as the 'Festival Capital of the World' due to the sheer number of festivals found throughout the state.  At one count there were over 400 festivals throughout the year, some big, some small.  No matter what the focus – music, food, heritage, arts, crafts, dance, holidays – a Louisiana festival is bound to please every participant.  Let's take a look.

Festivals You Might Expect

Crawfish and tiki people. Mardi Gras street costumers in the French Quarter. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We can't talk about festivals in Louisiana without talking about Mardi Gras.  But, do you know what Mardi Gras is all about?  This is a huge celebration in early Spring, culminating with Fat Tuesday (tomorrow!), the  day before Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of Lent on the church calendar.  This festival is all about having a last big party before the sacrifices of Lent begin.  Fat Tuesday is meant to be a 'devil may care' day of decadence; eat, drink, and be merry.  Even though New Orleans has become famous for merry-making during Mardi Gras, other cities, like Mobile and Baton Rouge have huge celebrations, many dating back to before New Orleans even considered having a Mardi Gras parade.

Along with Mardi Gras, seafood festivals abound!   Location demands this abundant resource be celebrated, cooked, and eaten in large quantities.  You certainly expect to find festivals like the Louisiana Seafood Festival or the Bridge City Gumbo Festival.  And, you know there's got to be some good catfish at the Franklin Parish Catfish Festival in Winnsboro.

When crawfish are in season, you can hardly turn a corner without finding a festival featuring these tasty crustaceans.  At the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival in May, you'll be able to sample huge flats of boiled crawfish, along with crawfish baked in pies, cooked up in gumbo, or featured in all sorts of ways you simply can't resist.  Remember, when you search for crawfish festivals, include the word 'mudbugs.'  Otherwise, you might miss out on a few, such as the Mudbug Madness Festival in Shreveport.  Truth be known, you could eat nothing but crawfish, or 'mudbugs,' for months at Louisiana festivals. Crawfish were one of my favorite things about living in Louisiana, and I still miss them all these years later!

Music festivals are also abundant, which shouldn't surprise you in this land of American music.  You'll find the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Baton Rouge Blues Festival, and the Creole Zydeco Festival, just to name a few.

Crawfish mound (Photo credit: izik)

Festivals That May Surprise You

Once we wander beyond the well known Louisiana favorites, there are some celebrations that may surprise you.  Louisiana is nothing if it is not diverse.  Beyond seafood and jazz, what does Louisiana have to offer?  A lot!

Enjoy a sweet treat at the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival.  Find new and wonderful ways to enjoy tomatoes at the Creole Tomato Festival in New Orleans,.  If you're in the vicinity of  Farmerville, sink your teeth in some sweet goodness at the Watermelon Festival.  If you think yams and sweet potatoes need celebrating, dig in at the Yambilee Festival in Opelousas.  There's even a Rice Festival.  Trust Louisiana to make rice exciting and delicious!

Want more food?  Join in the fun at the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival in September.  Craving sweets?    Take a trip to enjoy a few slices of  pie at the Lecompte Pie Festival in October.  If you haven't had your fill of music yet, but want to experience something surprising, check out the Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans or the Zydeco Festival in LaBeau.

Scroll through any Louisiana festival website and you'll find pages and pages of festivals, big and small, literally every day of the year.  You can hardly throw a stone in the state without hitting a festival tent!  Fill up your car and hit the road.  You will never regret exploring the Louisiana festival scene - or it's food.

And if you want to bring some Louisiana flavor to your own kitchen, be sure to check out this week's and last week's recipes for some good eats at home!