Thanksgiving falls on November 28 this year and as the holiday approaches, people are preparing recipes for their Thanksgiving dishes.
Here are some of the favorites in Louisiana.
Nine of the most popular Thanksgiving dishes in Louisiana
In Louisiana, Thanksgiving meals range from the holiday’s signature dishes to traditional Cajun recipes popular in the state.
Traditional Cajun Thanksgiving dishes are full of flavor and spice, and often include the “trinity of Cajun foods,” which consists of onions, peppers and celery.
The nine most popular traditional Thanksgiving meals in Louisiana are gumbo, cornbread dressing, sweet potato pie, andouille or boudin, corn and crab bisque, spinach madeleine, oyster dressing, dirty rice and collard greens.
Gumbo
Louisiana is widely known for its Cajun gumbo, and this beloved dish is also considered a traditional holiday meal in the state.
Some Louisiana residents choose to serve gumbo after the Thanksgiving meal, while others participate in the tradition of “Gumbo Friday,” where gumbo is served the day after Thanksgiving.
Cornbread dressing
Not to be confused with stuffing, cornbread dressing consists of cornbread, stock, and various spices and seasonings.
There are many variations of cornbread dressing in Louisiana, with some recipes including sausage, ground beef or oysters.
Oyster dressing
Oyster dressing is considered a traditional Thanksgiving dish in Louisiana. Traditional oyster dressing in Louisiana is usually accompanied by fresh vegetables, andouille sausage, herbs and toasted baguette.
The tradition of adding oysters to dressing on Thanksgiving dates back about 300 years and began due to the abundance of oysters and the need to feed large groups of people.
Sweet potato casserole
Sweet potato dishes may be a Thanksgiving tradition across the US, but in the South, sweet potato recipes are a special main dish.
In Louisiana, sweet potato casserole is a popular dish that is sticky sweet and topped with pralines.
Andouille or boudin
Both andouille and boudin sausage are commonly served at Thanksgiving in Louisiana, and these particular sausages are served as is or as part of a larger recipe.
Boudin is a type of pork sausage that is coated with rice and various herbs and spices, while andouille is a smoked pork sausage that is made with garlic, pepper, onions and spices.
Corn and crab bisque
Corn and crab bisque is a traditional holiday meal in Louisiana and is typically served before the main course of a meal.
This savory bisque is both rich and creamy, with highly seasoned seafood added to the mix.
Spinach Madeline
Spinach Madeline is a popular Southern side dish that was created in Louisiana, and the spinach dish is especially popular on holidays like Thanksgiving.
The dish was first crated by Madeline Reymond and later published in a South Louisiana cookbook in 1959. Since its inception, Spinach Madeline has been a holiday favorite in Louisiana.
Cajun rice or “dirty rice”
A traditional Cajun dish often served on Thanksgiving in Louisiana is a more gourmet version of “dirty rice,” also known as rice dressing.
Rice dressing is a dish that combines rice, ground beef, aromatics and traditional Creole and Cajun seasonings. Traditionally, when making dirty rice, various organ meats, such as chicken livers and gizzards, are added to the mix, but some recipes exclude these meats.
Kale Vegetables
Kale is a Southern tradition when it comes to soul food, and in Louisiana, Southern-style collards are often served as a side dish at Thanksgiving.
Traditional Southern kale is cooked using the principle of “low and slow”, and is often simmered in some sort of stock with diced ham, or sometimes smoked turkey wings.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Nine of the Most Popular Traditional Thanksgiving Meals in Louisiana
