Fried Alligator | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
food

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.

171
crawfish

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.

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

The Great Christmas Movie Debate

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

65
The Great Christmas Movie Debate
Mental Floss

One staple of the Christmas season is sitting around the television watching a Christmas movie with family and friends. But of the seemingly hundreds of movies, which one is the star on the tree? Some share stories of Santa to children ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), others want to spread the Christmas joy to adults ("It's a Wonderful Life"), and a select few are made to get laughs ("Elf"). All good movies, but merely ornaments on the Christmas tree of the best movies. What tops the tree is a movie that bridges the gap between these three movies, and makes it a great watch for anyone who chooses to watch it. Enter the timeless Christmas classic, "A Christmas Story." Created in 1983, this movie holds the tradition of capturing both young and old eyes for 24 straight hours on its Christmas Day marathon. It gets the most coverage out of all holiday movies, but the sheer amount of times it's on television does not make it the greatest. Why is it,
then? A Christmas Story does not try to tell the tale of a Christmas miracle or use Christmas magic to move the story. What it does do though is tell the real story of Christmas. It is relatable and brings out the unmatched excitement of children on Christmas in everyone who watches. Every one becomes a child again when they watch "A Christmas Story."

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas tree
Librarian Lavender

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

1629
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

2983
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl roommates
StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments