Cajun Mardi Gras

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!

(Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!)

Courir de Mardi Gras... "Fat Tuesday Run"! Chasing chickens and making gumbo... mon cher we gonna pass a good time. 

The rural Mardi Gras celebration is based on the early begging rituals, very similar to Halloween. Led by Le Capitaine, the revelers approach homes to ask permission to enter their property where they ask for various ingredients to make a gumbo. This may also include the ritual of "chasing chickens"... one of the main ingredients in the gumbo. 

So in honor of the Cajun Mardi Gras we're putting on a pot of gumbo, stirring up a pitcher of Cajun lemonade and turning up some Zydeco. 

They got a chicken on the run... The Pots Are On!

The Plate... 

Gumbo Ya-Ya

First off you ain't gonna did nuttin' till you made you self a roux. After all the running and gathering the whole town will feast on gumbo... so you best be learning how to make you some. 

What you need...  

2 cups butter

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 red bell peppers / diced

2 green bell peppers / diced

2 yellow onions diced

2 stalks of celery, diced

5 quarts of chicken stock

2 tbsp Creole/cajun seasoning (Zatarain's or Tony Chachere)

1 tsp black pepper, red pepper, chili powder, and thyme 

1 tbsp chopped garlic

2 bay leaves

2 tbsp salt

couple shakes of Tabasco sauce 

1 pound andouille sausage / cut into 1/2 inch chunks

1 whole 4lb chicken, roasted and deboned / cut into small pieces

What you gonna did... 

1. First you make a roux. Melt the butter in a 12-quart stockpot. Whisk in the flour and cook until foaming. Cook, stirring often, until dark mahogany, about 1 hour.
2. Add the peppers, onion, and celery. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the chicken stock (make sure it’s hot), and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer. Stir in Creole Seasoning, black pepper, crushed red pepper, chili powder, thyme, chopped garlic, bay leaves, and kosher salt. Cook, skimming fat as necessary, an additional 45 minutes.
3. Add the andouille and chicken and cook for approximately 15 minutes. Taste, and adjust for seasoning.
4. Serve with some good French bread. 

The Playlist... 

Cajun Mardi Gras

The Mardi Gras song, known as "La Danse de Mardi Gras" and "La Vieille Chanson de Mardi Gras", is a traditional tune sung by the participants, Dance at Mardi Gras! 

So we have put together some traditional and newer "Cajun" party tunes for you. Crank it up and Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! 

The "Playlist" runs on Spotify- Click on the link to listen to Cajun Mardi Gras

The Bar... 

Cajun Lemonade

What you need... 

2 cups light rum

1 12oz can of frozen lemonade

1 tbsp of hot sauce

1 liter club soda chilled

crushed ice

Get to drinkin'...

Stir the first 3 ingredients together.

Add the club soda.

Serve over crushed ice and garnish with lemon. 

Chickens On The Run!

Please... Day Drink Responsibly 

& 

Keep On Cookin'!