Rich in spiritual tradition, Shrove Tuesday also carries delicious implications, like pancakes, fried pastries, and Cajun flavors. Mardi Gras Food is fun, flavorful, and can be super frugal.
Plan some of these recipes for a delicious Fat Tuesday. Your Mardi Gras Food will ensure that les bons temps rouler.
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Mardi Gras means “fat Tuesday” in French. In English it’s referred to as Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins.
Traditionally, it’s the day when one would purge the household of the foods that might be forbidden during Lenten observations. In previous times, rich foods, like butter, eggs, and cream, aka fats, were considered off limits in the weeks leading up to Easter.
Using up all the good stuff as a last hoorah before a more sober season led to the more animated celebrations of Mardi Gras that continue worldwide today. Mardi Gras food, is indeed, fun food.
Typically rich, decadent, and often fried, Mardi Gras Food is a fun thing to work into your meal plan in late winter.
Why Do This
It’s tradition. In 2022 Mardi Gras falls on March 1st, and is traditionally observed with some type of celebration. In the US, Mardi Gras food might include Cajun recipes as Louisiana is a hotbed of celebrations. Pancakes, donuts, crepes, and other fried foods are also part of the traditions world wide.
It’s affordable. Serving pancakes for Mardi Gras is not only tradition, but it’s a good cheap eat. Dish up some flapjacks for dinner as a quick and easy weeknight meal.
It’s delicious. Whether you go for something Cajun-inspired or simply dish up some donuts after a regular dinner, you’re bound to find some tasty Mardi Gras food ideas in this round-up of Good Cheap Eats.
Money-Saving Tips
As you plan your Mardi Gras food, consider these money-saving strategies:
- Shop the kitchen. What ingredients do you already have on hand that will serve as a festive meal? You save money every time you use something you have rather than going out to buy more.
- Make a plan for leftovers. If you buy a special ingredient, like shrimp or andouille, make sure that you have a plan to use it up. Wasting food is a big money waster.
- Check the sales. You’ll likely find sales for shrimp and other seafood right now in anticipation of Lent. Some faiths still abstain from meat at certain times during Lent, so marketers are going to be pushing fish and shrimp.
- Cook from scratch. You’ll typically Save Money Cooking at Home as opposed to going to restaurants. Try your hand at your favorite gumbo or jambalaya and keep your costs down. Scroll down for some easy recipes for Mardi Gras food.
- Freeze extra for later. If you’re going to fry up Gramma John’s Buttermilk Donuts or beignets, make extra to freeze. That way you can enjoy some fun food a weeks down the line.
Recipes
If you’d like to serve a special dinner in honor of Mardi Gras, consider one (or more) of these options.
Disclaimer: I am not Cajun, so, no, my recipes aren’t authentically Cajun; I don’t claim otherwise. They are inspired by Cajun cuisine.
Delicious, easy, and affordable, this Mardi Gras food is worth a try!
Have you got any favorite Mardi Gras recipes?
This post was originally published on February 20, 2012. It has been updated for content and clarity.
Leslie
I like how you get into the spirit of other US food cultures.
What is my favorite Mardi Gras food? King Cake! It’s a cake that comes with different fillings (cinnamon, cream cheese, Bavarian, fruit fillings), and icing (sprinkled with purple, green, and gold sugar). Some places even serve King Cakes that have Nutella or Boudin (a sausage stuffed with rice dressing….a must have if you ever visit SW Louisiana) on the inside. Before you serve it, you put the plastic baby that comes with it, and whoever gets the baby, has to buy the next one. They are ubiquitous here this time of year. Even Walmart sells them. You can also buy King Cake cookies, lattes, French Fries (with the purple, green, and gold sugar).
I’ve never made one myself, mainly because they are everywhere here this time of year. You ought to consider developing a recipe. Other than the colored sugar, it seems like a good, cheap eat to make. You can buy plastic babies on Amazon. ?
Jessica Fisher
Your comment made me smile, Leslie. I do love those holidays and foods from other places! I’ve been thinking about trying a King Cake. What’s your favorite filling?
Lisa S
I too have gotten into the habit of just buying them, but I do love mine better which I always made when I worked less. It makes two so I got to gift one each year. I use this recipe but I leave out the raisins, and use one cup of almond meal instead of the pecans. So good! https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/8144/mardi-gras-king-cake/
Kathleen D
I started celebrating Shrove Tuesday about 20 years ago when I got into Tudor history. Before that I used to make something New Orleans-y like Jambalaya. This year I will be making blueberry pancakes and bacon for dinner.
Stella Moser
We are having our pancakes tomorrow for Valentine’s (?) Tonight for Fat Tuesday we are having Mufalatta and King cake for dessert
Jessica Fisher
Sounds delish!
kara owen
My kids go to Catholic school and every Fat Tuesday the Dads Club serves pancakes and bacon. That lunch day there’s, ‘no rules, no limits, no moms’ and the kids LOVE it. A Creole inspired dish for dinner that night sounds delicious and would be a good balance for the day 🙂
Alice E
Jessica, do you think the Cajun spice mix would work without the black pepper. It looks interesting, but I have digestive trouble when I eat black pepper. I do get by with a little occasionally, but I try to avoid it. Do you think I could increase the cayenne slightly, or just add some summer savory?
Jessica Fisher
I always recommend that folks omit an item that doesn’t sit well with them. If you can have cayenne pepper, you’ll have some kick. If you’re used to doing without black pepper, it should be just fine.
Rebecca
Thanks for the ideas. I was already planning to do pancakes for the kids that night, but maybe my husband and I will have the spaghetti squash jambalaya!
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Rebecca, I prepared Jessica’s spaghetti squash jambalaya for the first time recently and it was delicious! I highly recommend it.
Jessica Fisher
So glad you enjoyed it!
Melissa in GA
Let the good times roll!!
My daughter is currently enjoying all the parades and carnival atmosphere in NOLA! She attended her first parade last week and I asked her – did you get any pretty beads? Her response was – if I did I lost them! That means she had so much “fun” she doesn’t remember. Lol. Ah, to be young again!
I grew up on the gulf coast and it’s a part of our lives. Dad drove down last week for a doctors appointment and brought back a king cake – it was delicious.
I made shrimp creole for supper on Sunday – it’s super easy.
Sauté a medium chopped onion, a small chopped bell pepper, a finely chopped celery stalk and 2 minced garlic cloves in 1/4 cup butter for 10 minutes. Stir in a 15oz can of tomato sauce and a cup of water. Add a couple bay leaves, salt and cayenne pepper (or your Cajun spice mix). Heat to boiling and then reduce heat to low simmering uncovered for about 10-15 minutes. Stir in 2 pounds of peeled shrimp. Heat to boiling, reduce to medium and cook 5 minutes. Stir occasionally. The shrimp should be pink and firm. Remove the bay leaves and serve over hot cooked rice.
Jessica Fisher
Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing!
glen
Hmmmm……Being from New Orleans (both my parents born and raised there too) our idea of Mardi Gras food is very different. However, yours are a passable start for those interested in learning about our rich food culture.
Jessica Fisher
I figured as much. Thanks for understanding that not everyone has had the advantage you’ve had. 🙂
M
What recipe is the top photo?
Jessica Fisher
That is the Spaghetti Squash Jambalaya, only served on rice. There’s no squash in the topping. Some of my kids prefer it on rice.
Alice E
I think it is the jambalaya in the spaghetti squash recipe, only served over rice. If you link to the recipe one of the pics in it looks like the topping on the rice, at least to me.