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11 Cajun Dishes Every Non-Louisianan Needs To Try At Least Once

Following my freshman year of college, I now have a taste for several of the state's classic dishes.

garrets24

Jul 11, 2018

Louisiana State University

165

@simmons_sporting_goods / Instagram

My first experience with any type of Cajun food was at Popeye's here in Texas. I ordered chicken tenders with a side of red beans and rice. I instantly fell in love with the red beans and rice, so I decided to venture out and try some other Cajun classics. My next run-in with Cajun food would come in Baton Rouge while my family and I visited Louisiana State University for the first time. We ate at several great restaurants and I was instantly hooked. Fast forward to my freshman year at LSU and I was finally able to try all the typical Louisiana foods.

The 11 foods I have listed are some of my favorites from everything I tried throughout the year.

Jambalaya

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiuVtFCncn7/?tagged=potandpaddle

Without a doubt, jambalaya is my favorite out of everything I tried this year. It is primarily made with chicken or pork, sausage, and rice. I prefer the Cajun style, which is brown in color, but there is also a Creole style that is made with tomatoes instead. This dish is available at most restaurants, but there are several places in Baton Rouge that specialize in just making jambalaya. My personal favorite is Pot and Paddle, check it out if you're ever in town.

Crawfish

https://www.instagram.com/p/BinnHU5DksR/?tagged=potandpaddle

Crawfish is what everyone thinks about when they think of Louisiana cuisine. Even though crawfish are popular in Texas too, the first crawfish boil I attended was at Mike's Bar in Tigerland. Crawfish are slightly difficult to peal at first, but after a few it becomes easy to reach the tail meat. The crawfish I had were pretty spicy which gave them some really nice flavor.

Fried Boudin

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi5MLdvgq4E/?tagged=boudinballs

To be honest, I was a little worried to try boudin because it sounded nasty to me. It's just a pork sausage with rice stuffed inside, so I really don't know what I was worried about. Anyway, I gave it a try and now it is one of my favorite appetizers to order at restaurants. Once again, if you're in Baton Rouge, Tony's Seafood Market makes some great fried boudin.

Fried Alligator

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjpRSuYnqli/?tagged=friedalligator

This is another food I was a little uncertain about trying. I was with some friends at The Chimes one night when we decided to try the fried alligator. I ended up really liking it and if you were wondering, yes it does taste like chicken. It has a similar taste to chicken, but a different texture. It also tastes great with some ketchup.

Gumbo

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk2zMeclXLn/?tagged=gumbo

This is another classic in Louisiana. It's basically a soup, but with rice instead of noodles. The first gumbo I tried was made with chicken and duck, which was a great combination. It's a great dish for when (or if) it gets cold down in the bayou.

Red Beans and Rice

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bky-K1wH6ZQ/?tagged=redbeansandrice

Like I mentioned, red beans and rice was one of the first foods I tried. Many restaurants offer it as a side dish or even a meal, so I can usually enjoy red beans and rice with my catfish or jambalaya. My favorite place to eat red beans and rice is The Chimes right by campus. Theirs is even tastier because they add some pieces of andouille sausage, which adds even more flavor. Overall, red beans and rice is always a go to for me.

Soft Shell Crab

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk5gF9bHE5c/?tagged=softshellcrab

The first time I noticed soft shell crab on a menu was at Juban's in Baton Rouge. I ordered the soft shell crab sandwich and was pleasantly surprised. Later on, in my biology class, I learned that soft shell crabs are just normal crabs but they shed their shell and are in the process of growing a new one. They are captured during this process and can be eaten whole because they obviously lack their hard shell. It was honestly kind of cool and disgusting to be eating an entire crab.

Dirty Rice

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk0n11RnKmd/?tagged=dirtyrice

I can thank The Five dining hall on campus for my new liking of dirty rice. They served it numerous times with different meals and I started liking the dish. Basically, dirty rice just consists of rice, ground beef, peppers, and onions. It has a great flavor and is a great main dish or side dish. I'm usually not a fan of peppers and onions, but this slightly changed my preferences.

Beignets

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkxaaFsjxlf/?tagged=beignets

If you ever visit New Orleans, beignets are a must. It is simply a fried pastry coated with a layer of powdered sugar. It is really reminiscent of a funnel cake, but slightly more elegant. They are also wonderful when paired with coffee or my personal favorite, hot chocolate.

King Cake

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj0nDhPl_Qk/?tagged=kingcake

Before I came to Louisiana I didn't have the slightest idea of what Mardi Gras was besides that tons of people go to New Orleans to party for several days. This year I got to experience the holiday firsthand and it was amazing. King Cake one of the main traditions of the holiday and I definitely had my fair share of the treat. It's almost like a cinnamon roll with icing and I promise it can become addicting.

Tony Chachere's

https://www.instagram.com/p/_AsJnzzdwc/?tagged=tonychacheres

Not a food, but it is something I think every Louisiana resident has in their cabinet. This seasoning tastes amazing and spices up anything and everything. I bought some to use at home this summer and I can say it works especially great for eggs and fries.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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11 Cajun Dishes Every Non-Louisianan Needs To Try At Least Once

Following my freshman year of college, I now have a taste for several of the state's classic dishes.

Jambalaya

Crawfish

Fried Boudin

Fried Alligator

Gumbo

Red Beans and Rice

Soft Shell Crab

Dirty Rice

Beignets

King Cake

Tony Chachere's

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

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2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

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6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

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9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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