Cajun Caviar

The following recipe was prepared for my Chef Spotlight Dinner highlighting New Orleans chefs. You can read about it and get other recipes from the event HERE.

Cajun Caviar
shared at the event by Ruth
recipe can be found here

1 (10 1/2 ounce) can black eyed peas, drained
1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped (I use a mixture of red and yellow peppers)
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced (large)
1/3 cup pickled jalapeno pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oill

Combine all ingredients and mix well.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but overnight is best.
Keep chilled until ready to serve with tortilla chips, corn chips or crackers.

Cajun Crabcakes

The following recipe was prepared for my Chef Spotlight Dinner highlighting New Orleans chefs. You can read about it and get other recipes from the event HERE.

Cajun Crabcakes
shared at the event by Ruth
recipe can be found here

32 ounces claw crabmeat
2 cups plain bread crumbs
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning, recipe follows*
3 eggs
1 red onion, minced
Vegetable oil, for pan-frying
*Cook’s Note: Store bought Cajun seasoning is fine also

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

Flake the crabmeat into a large bowl and add the bread crumbs, mustard, hot sauce, Cajun seasoning, eggs and onion. Mix well but don’t overwork or the cakes will be mealy. Divide the mixture into 16 balls and flatten slightly to form the cakes. (The recipe can be made to this point and the cakes can be refrigerated overnight or frozen for up to 1 week.)

Pour 1/2-inch of vegetable oil into a medium saucepan and heat over medium-high. When oil is hot, fry the cakes in batches until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Keep warm in a low oven until ready to serve.

Cajun Seasoning:

1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Yield: about 5 teaspoons

Spinach & Oyster Loaf

The following recipe was prepared for my Chef Spotlight Dinner highlighting New Orleans chefs. You can read about it and get other recipes from the event HERE.

Spinach & Oyster Loaf
shared at the event by Robert
recipe can be found here

1/4 cup butter
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 cups finely chopped celery
2 cloves garlic, pressed
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
1 cup heavy cream
2 dashes hot sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
salt
3 cups fresh breadcrumbs
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup coarsely chopped and drained oyster

Preheat oven to 400°F and butter a loaf pan.
Melt butter in a large skillet, add onions, celery and garlic and cook over medium high heat, stirring until vegetables soften.
Add spinach, cream, hot sauce, nutmeg and salt.
Cook 5 minutes, stirring often.
Remove pan from heat, stir in bread crumbs, eggs and oysters, stirring until well mixed.
Spoon mixture into the prepared loaf pan.
Set pan in a larger baking dish and add about 1 1/2 inchs of boiling water.
Bake 45-50 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Seafood Jambalaya

The following recipe was prepared for my Chef Spotlight Dinner highlighting New Orleans chefs. You can read about it and get other recipes from the event HERE.

Seafood Jambalaya
shared at the event by Joelen
inspired by this recipe & adapted from here

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2 red onions, chopped
5 green onions, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 bay leaves
1 jalapeño chili, finely chopped with seeds
1 tablespoon Creole Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 pound andouille sausage or hot Italian sausage, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 pound ham, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 14 1/2-ounce cans chicken broth
1 16-ounce can plum tomatoes, diced, with liquid
3 cups long-grain rice

Melt butter in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add red onions, 4 green onion, bell pepper, garlic, bay leaves, jalapeño, Creole Seasoning, cayenne pepper and oregano. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Mix in tomato paste. Add sausage, ham, broth, tomatoes and rice. Bring mixture to simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until rice is very tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Garnish with remaining green onion and serve.

Cajun Shrimp Pasta

The following recipe was prepared for my Chef Spotlight Dinner highlighting New Orleans chefs. You can read about it and get other recipes from the event HERE.

Cajun Shrimp Pasta
shared at the event by Betsy
recipe can be found here

2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon basil
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
2 cup diced peeled and seeded tomatoes
2 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
3 cup chicken or shrimp stock
1 pound vermicelli pasta or linguine
1 pound fresh shrimp, peeled and deviened (can substitute chicken)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions
Saute the onion in the olive oil for approximately four minutes. Add the garlic and stir. Add thyme, cayenne and black peppers, and basil and cook at low heat for five more minutes. Add everything else except for the pasta, shrimp, and cheese, and cook over low heat for an hour. Saute the shrimp in some butter and garlic until three-quarters cooked (pink, but not totally opaque). Add the sauce and cook for an additional two minutes. Add the cooked pasta and toss well with the grated cheese. Serve hot.

Red Beans & Andoille Over Rice

The following recipe was prepared for my Chef Spotlight Dinner highlighting New Orleans chefs. You can read about it and get other recipes from the event HERE.

Red Beans & Andoille Over Rice
shared at the event by Teresa
recipe can be found here

1 pound dried red beans, rinsed and sorted over
3 tablespoons bacon grease
1/4 cup chopped tasso, or chopped ham
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions
3/4 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch cayenne
3 bay leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons fresh thyme
1/2 pound smoked sausage, split in half lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pound smoked ham hocks
3 tablespoons chopped garlic
10 cups chicken stock, or water
4 cups cooked white rice
1/4 cup chopped green onions, garnish

Place the beans in a large bowl or pot and cover with water by 2 inches. Let soak for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and set aside.

In a large pot, heat the bacon grease over medium-high heat. Add the tasso and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the onions, celery and bell peppers to the grease in the pot. Season with the salt, pepper, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft, about 4 minutes. Add the bay leaves, parsley, thyme, sausage, and ham hocks, and cook, stirring, to brown the sausage and ham hocks, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the beans and stock or water, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and starting to thicken, about 2 hours. (Should the beans become too thick and dry, add more water, about 1/4 cup at a time.)

Remove from the heat and with the back of a heavy spoon, mash about 1/4 of the beans against the side of the pot. Continue to cook until the beans are tender and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and remove the bay leaves.

Serve over rice and garnish with green onions.

Chef Spotlight: NOLA Cuisine Roundup!

Tonight was my monthly Chef Spotlight dinner! In remembrance of Hurricane Katrina that swept through New Orleans three years ago, we paid homage to the culinary talent that managed to withstand the winds and rains. My friends and I gathered around dishes we made using recipes of famous New Orleans chefs or random Cajun/Creole inspired recipes. Here’s what graced our table:

Cajun Caviar
shared at the event by Ruth

Cajun Crabcakes
shared at the event by Ruth

Spinach & Oyster Loaf
shared at the event by Robert

Red Beans & Andoille Over Rice
shared at the event by Teresa

Seafood Jambalaya
shared at the event by Joelen

Cajun Shrimp Pasta
shared at the event by Betsy

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding
shared at the event by Joelen

To join in the fun, my fellow bloggers have submitted recipes inspired by Cajun & Creole cuisine. As I do with each blogging event I host, a lucky blogger receives a giveaway related to the food theme. This event’s winner is Stina of Eat Something! Stina will be receiving a Cajun Cookbook compliments of Tony Chachare and a jar of King Creole Seasoning from The Spice House. Congratulations Stina and thanks to all that participated in the blogging event! Read on to check out the recipes submitted by my fellow bloggers…

Stina of Eat Something!
from Mephis, TN
Potage Maigre & Praline Bread Pudding
Stina contributes 2 meatless dishes and shares her thoughts on Creole food. Check out her blog for the Potage Maigre and Praline Bread Pudding recipes as well as her views on Creole cuisine!

Rachel of The Crispy Cook
from New York
Scallop & Corn Salad
Rachel joins the event with a colorful and refreshing salad, using lots of tomatoes, peppers, basil,and corn right from her garden. Check out her blog for the recipe and “BAM!” your guests with it!

Jessica of New Year, New Name, New Me
from Wisconsin
New Orleans French Market Beignets
What would a New Orleans food event be without Beignets? These soft pillowy treats are what Jessica shares with us. Check out her recipe on her blog and you just might stop eating doughnuts!

Elizabeth of Elizabeth’s Edible Experience
from Fairfax, VA but originally from NOLA
Cornbread & Andouille Dressing
Elizabeth joins us for her first blogging event and shares her amazing dressing. It has some great flavors mixed in so be sure to check out her blog for the recipe!

Ally of Culinary Infatuation
from Atlanta, GA
Healthier Red Beans & Rice
Looking for healthy recipes without sacrificing flavor? Give Ally’s recipe for Red Beans
& Rice a try! She lightens it up using brown rice & smoked turkey sausage. Check out her blog for the recipe and give it a try!

Heather of The Shannon’s Kitchen
from Florida
Jambalaya Pasta
Heather made an Emeril Lagasse recipe for Jambalaya Pasta chock full of chicken, shrimp & andoille sausage. Check out her blog for the great recipe and find out what interesting side dish she made to accompany it!

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

The following recipe was prepared for my Chef Spotlight Dinner highlighting New Orleans chefs. You can read about it and get other recipes from the event HERE.

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding
shared at the event by Joelen
inspired by this recipe & adapted from here

4 loaves – French bread, each 1’ long
1 qt – Heavy cream
1 ½ C – Whole milk
1 ½ C – Sugar
3 C – Light brown sugar
12 ea – Egg yolks
3 ea – Bananas
1 C – Rum
½ t – Ground cinnamon
4 T – Vanilla extract
Fresh mint for garnish

Slice French bread and dry in a 200° oven for 20 minutes. Combine remaining pudding ingredients in a large container and blend well with a hand mixer. Thinly slice dried French bread and place in an 8” x 10” x 2” pan. Pour pudding into pan and mush all bread by hand so that the liquid is absorbed and the bread becomes very soggy. Be sure to flatten all of the lumps. Cover pan with foil and bake at 300° for 2 ½ hours, or until a skewer inserted in the center of the pudding comes out dry. Remove foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Set aside to cool.

Foster Sauce
4 ½ C – Unsalted butter
4 ½ C – Packed dark brown sugar
3 t – Ground cinnamon
2 ¼ C – Golden rum
2 ¼ C – Banana liqueur
8 – Bananas, sliced lengthwise and in half

Melt butter in a saucepot. Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and mix well. Add the rum and ignite. Allow the flames to subside. Then, stir in the banana liqueur. Add fresh bananas and simmer over medium heat for about 2 minutes or until the sauce coats the spoon.

To Serve: Cut bread pudding into 3 ½” x 3 ½” squares. Top warm bread pudding with Foster sauce and garnish with mint leaves.

Fishing for Dinner

I had a craving for seafood today and so I fished out some tilapia to bake. I came across this recipe and tried my hand at making it a little healthier. It also gave me a reason to try out some Cajun seasoning I recently bought! The recipe isn’t really labor intensive… in fact I’m sure a child could do it! I served this with 2 small baked red potatoes and some steamed broccoli.

Here’s my adapted recipe for Cajun Seasoned Tilapia:

4 to 6 tilapia fillets, fresh or frozen
cooking spray or 1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
Dash black pepper

Heat oven to 400°. Lightly grease a large shallow baking dish.
Combine the seasonings in a gallon sized freezer bag.
Place one tilapia in the freezer bag and shake until fully coated.
If using frozen tilapia fillets, dip the tilapia in water to moisten before placing in the seasoning bag.
Arrange the seasoned fish fillets on the prepared baking pan.
Brush the fillets with melted butter or spray with cooking spray.
Bake the fish fillets for 15 to 20 minutes in preheated oven, or until fish is cooked through.
Fish will flake easily with a fork when done.
Carefully remove the fillets to plates with a spatula.

Adding Spice to a Chilly Night…

It is yet another cold blusterous day in Chicago… so what better way to warm up the belly with some heat! Tonight I made my version of a cajun shrimp & pasta dish.

Cajun cuisine originates from the French-speaking Acadian or “Cajun” immigrants in the Acadiana region of Louisiana. It’s considered a rustic cuisine that was developed out of necessity usually involving a main dish, rice and vegetables. There is a common misconception outside of south Louisiana that Cajun food is hot and spicy. An authentic Cajun dish will usually have a bit of a “kick” but will not be eye-wateringly hot.

Cajun cuisine is sometimes confused with Creole cuisine, and many outside of Louisiana don’t make the distinction. Creole is more city – urban, cosmopolitan, and inspired by the Spanish, Italian, and African influences of New Orleans – while Cajun dishes have more of a French influence, filtered through common (to Louisiana) ingredients and techniques.

Here is my recipe for Cajun Shrimp & Pasta:
(as you can see, I’m getting better at food porn!)

1 lb raw shrimp, peeled & deveined
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup of sliced bell pepper strips
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 paprika
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 bay leaf
pinch of thyme
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
penne pasta
shredded italian cheese blend for garnish

— Prepare pasta according to directions on package.
— In bowl, season raw shrimp with all the seasonings; set aside.

— In a shallow pan, saute garlic and onion in some cooking oil.

— Add shrimp and cooked it it starts to turn pink.

— Add tomato sauce and paste. Stir.
— Season with salt & pepper to tastes.

— Add bell pepper strips. Cook through.

— When pasta is cooked & drained, add to pan.

— Toss to combine. Plate & garnish with cheese.