Mardi Gras Appetizers

With the rich and heavy Christmas appetizer recipes filed away for another year, now is the time to try out some delicious Mardi Gras appetizer recipes for the upcoming Mardi Gras Carnival season.

Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, but the Mardi Gras Carnival season itself runs from January 6th to Mardi Gras day. Mardi Gras appetizers are a wonderful mix of Cajun, Creole and Southern cooking, steeped with amazing flavor and colorful history.

Mardi Gras appetizers are the perfect alternative to the heavy Christmas party appetizers served only a month earlier, but don't relegate them only to the Mardi Gras season as they are suitable for any time of year.

This Cajun Fried Okra Mardi Gras Appetizers recipe, courtesy Paula Deen and Foodnetwork, is certain to be a winner for your Mardi Gras celebrations, or intimate winter dinner parties.

Cajun Fried Okra Mardi Gras Appetizers

Ingredients
6 cups oil, for frying
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
Directions
2 teaspoons House Seasoning, recipe follows
1/4 teaspoon Cajun spice
2 pounds fresh okra, sliced 1/2-inch thick
1/2 cup buttermilk
Creamy Chili Sauce, recipe follows
Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven to 350 degrees F. (You may not need to use this much oil; do not fill the pan more than halfway up the sides with oil.)
In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, House Seasoning, and Cajun spice. Dip okra in buttermilk and then dredge in cornmeal-flour mixture to coat well. Carefully add okra to the hot oil and cook until golden brown. (It may be necessary to fry the okra in batches.) Remove from oil, drain on paper towels, and then serve immediately.
House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Creamy Chili Sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons Thai sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon garlic chili pepper sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients, stirring well. Cover and chill.
Yield: 1 1/4 cups

For more great Mardi Gras appetizer recipes, visit http://www.appetizersunlimited.com/
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