BBQ shrimp is a traditional dish from New Orleans. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with barbecue – instead it's either cooked on the stove or in the oven. The dish is made with large fresh shrimp (shells on), butter, lemon juice, hot sauce, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce.
The combination is baked or cooked on the stove, and it's then traditionally served as an appetizer. BBQ shrimp are typically served with crusty french bread on the side to mop up the juices.
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Charbroiled oysters is a traditional dish originating from New Orleans. In order to make the dish, freshly shucked Louisiana oysters on the half shell are placed on the hot grill and cooked in their own juices until bubbling and the edges start to curl.
The oysters are topped with a sauce consisting of butter, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, cayenne, lemon juice, and grated Pecorino Romano. Once the sauce has started to bubble, each oyster is sprinkled with grated Pecorino and garnished with minced parsley.
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Originally invented in New Orleans' French Quarter, these oysters are baked in their shells with bread crumbs, grated cheese, onions, mushrooms, shrimp, wine, and a buttery roux. The oysters are baked until lightly browned, then served immediately, preferably garnished with chopped green onions and lemon wedges.
This elegant appetizer is served in many fine dining restaurants in New Orleans, including the famous Antoine's and Arnaud's.
MOST ICONIC Oysters Bienville
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Oysters Rockefeller is a popular American appetizer consisting of oysters served on half-shells that are topped with ingredients such as butter sauce, bread crumbs, and various green herbs such as parsley. They are then either broiled or baked.
The appetizer was invented in 1899 in America's oldest family-run restaurant called Antoine's in New Orleans, when Jules Alciatore, the original owner's son adapted his father's signature dish known as escargot Bourguignon, but he replaced the snails with oysters, a local food source that was abundant in the area.
Oyster Rockefeller was born, and the original recipe is still a closely-guarded secret of Antoine's.
Blackened alligator is a specialty hailing from Louisiana that is made with pan-seared pieces of seasoned alligator meat as the star ingredient. The dish is typically prepared by rubbing bite-sized pieces of alligator meat with a blend of spices and seasonings before the meat is seared or blackened in a smoking hot cast-iron skillet with a small amount of oil.
Typical spices include paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, chili powder, minced onion powder, minced garlic powder, ground thyme, ground oregano, kosher salt, and Cajun seasoning. Blackened alligator bites are usually enjoyed with white rémoulade, a type of sour mayonnaise-based sauce.
MOST ICONIC Blackened Alligator
View moreBoudin balls are a specialty of Lousiana. These tasty balls typically consist of boudin sausage meat that is shaped into balls, battered, rolled in breadcrumbs, then fried in hot oil. Boudin sausage is made with cooked rice, onions, green peppers, ground pork, and various seasonings.
Although some Louisiana restaurants serve them for breakfast, it is recommended to serve boudin balls as an appetizer while they are still hot and crispy, preferably with a dipping sauce on the side.
MOST ICONIC Boudin Balls
View moreShrimp remoulade is a traditional dish originating from Louisiana. The dish features fresh shrimp served with a creamy remoulade sauce over crispy iceberg lettuce. The ingredients for red Creole remoulade (the French one is white and based on mayonnaise) include scallions, celery, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, garlic, cayenne pepper, paprika, ketchup, and wine vinegar.
The sauce is chilled, then combined with the shrimp and the dish is traditionally served as a cold appetizer in numerous Louisiana restaurants.
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Oysters Mosca is a famous oyster dish that's named after a New Orleans restaurant that made it popular. It's made with a combination of butter, breadcrumbs, olive oil, garlic, freshly shucked oysters, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and grated parmesan cheese.
The oysters are arranged in a baking dish, then topped with the seasoned breadcrumbs and grated cheese. The combination is baked in an oven until the sauce starts bubbling and the breadcrumbs on top begin to brown. The dish is typically served as an appetizer or a main dish with crusty bread, fresh salads, or spaghetti Bordelaise on the side.
Originally invented at the famous Antoine's restaurant in New Orleans, eggs Sardou is a Creole dish consisting of poached eggs, creamed spinach, Hollandaise sauce, and artichoke bottoms. The dish got its name after Victorien Sardou, a 19th-century French playwright who was staying in the city when the dish was invented.
Eggs Sardou are traditionally served warm on a warmed plate and garnished with chopped ham, anchovies, and black truffle slices. It is recommended to pair the dish with a glass of slightly sweet white wine.
MOST ICONIC Eggs Sardou
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Crabmeat ravigote is a traditional dish originating from New Orleans. It's usually made with a combination of fresh crabmeat, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, scallions, salt, pepper, capers, and parsley. The mayonnaise is mixed with mustard, scallions, salt, and black pepper.
The crab and capers are folded into the mixture until evenly coated. Crabmeat ravigote is garnished with parsley and served on individual endive leaves, iceberg lettuce, or slices of French bread. The dish is traditionally served as a cold appetizer.
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