5 Creole Dishes You Will Love
July 24, 2012
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Orlando
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5 Creole Dishes You Will Love
There are two categories of Southern cooking that are beloved by many food fanatics: Cajun and Creole. While many people mistake one for the other because they both share many similarities, Cajun and Creole are really two different styles. If you attend a cooking class or cooking school in Orlando you will likely learn all the differences between the two types fairly quickly. Here is a brief overview and some of the tastiest dishes you will love!
Creole cooking comes from the heart of Louisiana where people live off of what's available to them. This part of the country has received influence from the Portuguese, French, Native American, Spanish, African, and Italian cultures. Aspects from the foods of all these lands can be seen in traditional Creole cooking. If you consider yourself a foodie, the following Creole dishes might just make your taste buds dance.
1) New Orleans Shrimp Creole
Creole is a great food for entertaining guests because it is so simple yet delicious. The savory and spicy New Orleans Shrimp Creole will put a spark in your mouth and warm your belly. The dish has a very rustic and homey feel to it and just makes you want to share it with a special someone.
Here's how to make it:
-Cook 8 slices of diced bacon in a large skillet over a medium flame. It should take about 6 minutes to completion over medium-high heat.
-Next, take the bacon out of the skillet and set it aside in a separate container. Leave the bacon fat and drippings in the pan.
-Add 1/2 cup of chopped yellow and green onions, 1 clove of minced garlic, 1 cup of chopped celery, and 1.5 cups of chopped bell pepper into the pan and cook until the vegetables become very tender. This should take no more then 8 minutes over medium heat.
-Now put in 2 cans of plum tomatoes, 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, 1/4 cup of red wine vinegar, 1.2 teaspoon dry mustard, and 1/2 cup of stock. Season with salt, pepper, and Tabasco sauce according to your personal tastes.
-Re-add the bacon to the skillet and stir. Let the whole combination simmer for about 20 minutes over medium-low heat.
-Finally, add the 1/2 cup of wine and 1 lb of large, peeled shrimp. This should finish cooking in 5 minutes.
2) Louisiana Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
One of the most popular Southern foods has got to be gumbo. This scrumptious mixture of vegetables, meats, herbs and spices cooks down perfectly in a miracle broth that is both spicy and extremely flavorful. Unlike most traditional gumbos, this version packs some extra protein in the form of healthy, white chicken breast. For a slight twist on a Creole classic, serve the Louisiana Chicken and Sausage Gumbo to your family. They will surely thank you for it.
3) Louisiana Sausage Jambalaya
This Creole dish is a favorite amongst true Louisiana natives. It harmoniously combines the flavors of Spain and France into a uniquely tasty recipe. Also called "Red Jambalaya," this dish starts off with smoked Andouille sausage mixed with bell peppers, onions, and celery. Tomatoes usually follow the previous triad of vegetables followed by shrimp or shellfish. To finish things off, chicken stock and rice is combined with the rest of the ingredients for a complete dish that is to die for.
4) Creole Crab Cakes
A lot of seafood in the US comes from Louisiana, and crabs are no exception. With access to such fresh ingredients, it's no wonder that seafood dishes are so popular with the Cajun and Creole styles. Crab cakes are a great and simple way to enjoy the quality of the fresh seafood of the South. Normally, lump crab meat is combined with bread crumbs, mayonnaise, eggs, and vegetables to form thick, tasty patties.
5) Louisiana Crawfish Casserole
Crawfish might as well be the official food of Louisiana because they can be found in abundance there. That explains why crawfish are incorporated into so many Creole dishes, especially in any cooking class you might take. While the small crustaceans can be eaten alone, crawfish serve as an excellent replacement for shrimp is most recipes. The Louisiana Crawfish Casserole puts the little critters into the spotlight of this rich and creamy soul food.
If you enjoy these tips, maybe cooking school in Orlando would be a good fit for you!
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