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

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Mardi Gras Appetizer Recipes - Spicy Cajun Shrimp

Although the origins of Mardi Gras can be traced back to Medieval Europe, the lively and colorful Mardi Gras Carnival that we celebrate today is synonymous with New Orleans and the rich history, vibrant music, food and culture of the Creole people of Louisana.

New Orleans is famous for it's Cajun and Creole food and once you try a few of our Mardi Gras appetzer recipes, you will understand why. Although Cajun and Creole are often interchanged to describe the food of the region, Cajun has actually been described as country cooking whereas Creole is the more refined 'city cooking'.

So without further ado, we bring one of our all time favorite Mardi Gras Appetizer recipes to you courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens, a quick easy appetizer to make for your own Mardi Gras themed party:

Spicy Cajun Shrimp Mardi Gras Appetizers

Ingredients:
1 lb fresh or frozen large shrimp in shells
1/2 cup (250 ml) mayonniase or salad dressing
2 tblsp tomato paste
1 tblsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp bottled minced garlic (1 clove)
1/2 tblsp butter or margarine, melted
4 tsp Cajun seasoning (found in most grocery or speciality stores)

Directions:
1. Thaw shrimp, if frozen. Peel and devein shrimp, leaving tails intact. Rinse shrimp; pat dry with paper towels. In a small bowl stir together mayonnaise, tomato paste, lemon juice, and garlic. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
2. Brush both sides of each shrimp with melted butter. Sprinkle both sides of each shrimp with Cajun seasoning. Place on the unheated rack of a broiler pan.
3. Broil 4 to 5 inches from the heat for 2 minutes. Turn shrimp; broil for 1 to 2 minutes more or until shrimp are opaque. Serve shrimp with mayonnaise mixture.

Makes 8 appetizer servings.

Enjoy!

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