When people think of Louisiana, one of the first things that come to mind is all of the amazing food we are blessed with. From crawfish to snoballs, we have a unique culinary palate that people travel from around the world to taste. If you haven’t eaten these iconic 14 foods, you haven’t lived in Louisiana long enough.
- Beignets
Katie Spence/Flickr This New Orleans treat is best served with a piping hot coffee, either from Cafe du Monde or Morning Call.
- Crawfish
Memphis CVB/Flickr One of the best parts of springtime is getting to enjoy a crawfish boil with your friend and family. Typically available from February to May, you can typically find most Louisianians outside on a weekend boiling up some delicious mudbugs.
- Gumbo
Cyndie Ward/Flickr Whether you prefer chicken and sausage, duck, or seafood, one of the reasons to look forward to cooler weather means it’s almost gumbo season.
- BBQ Shrimp
Joe M./Trip Advisor New Orleans-style BBQ shrimp are incredibly buttery and flavorful. Soaked in a spicy garlic and lemon juice sauce, you can’t go wrong with this one.
- Snoballs
Jenni Konrad/Flickr These sugary treats are the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day, and they’re easy on the wallet. Win-win!
- Red Beans & Rice
Cookbookman17/Flickr Served on a Monday, of course!
- Po’boys
Nolamaven/Flickr There are endless combinations when it comes to po’boys. From roast beef to oyster to shrimp, everyone has a go-to restaurant that they frequent when they’re in the mood for this iconic sandwich.
- Crawfish Étouffée
Peggydebeliso/Trip Advisor This soul-satisfying Cajun delicacy has just the right amount of spice to it and many crave it when they move away.
- Alligator
jc.winkler/Flickr Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it! And once you’ve tried it, you’ll love it.
- Boudin
Shreveport-Bossier/Flickr This tasty delicacy is a significant part of the Cajun tradition and it’s absolutely worth a road trip to Cajun Country to try authentic boudin.
- Cracklins
Ernesto Andrade/Flickr This Cajun specialty is the ultimate road-trip snack, and when you drive out to Cajun Country to pick up that boudin, be sure to grab some of these little morsels for the road.
- Jambalaya
Dennis Amith/Flickr Jambalaya is one of those dishes that you have a recipe for that feeds a small army, but the best part is that it keeps well in the fridge for a few days, so you can enjoy leftovers all week.
- Muffuletta
mulaohu/Flickr This gargantuan sandwich was invented in New Orleans in 1906 at Central Grocery, and locals have been waiting in line to get them ever since.
- King Cake
Lindsay Attaway/Flickr Is it even Mardi Gras if you don’t have a slice of King Cake? The flavors are endless, but original cinnamon is the most popular. During Mardi Gras, these things are pretty hard to avoid. You can find them in grocery stores, bakeries, your office break room, and just about every family gathering during the season.
How many have you tried? Are there other quintessentially Louisiana dishes that all true Louisianans know and love? Let us know in the comments below!
Katie Spence/Flickr
This New Orleans treat is best served with a piping hot coffee, either from Cafe du Monde or Morning Call.
Memphis CVB/Flickr
One of the best parts of springtime is getting to enjoy a crawfish boil with your friend and family. Typically available from February to May, you can typically find most Louisianians outside on a weekend boiling up some delicious mudbugs.
Cyndie Ward/Flickr
Whether you prefer chicken and sausage, duck, or seafood, one of the reasons to look forward to cooler weather means it’s almost gumbo season.
Joe M./Trip Advisor
New Orleans-style BBQ shrimp are incredibly buttery and flavorful. Soaked in a spicy garlic and lemon juice sauce, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Jenni Konrad/Flickr
These sugary treats are the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day, and they’re easy on the wallet. Win-win!
Cookbookman17/Flickr
Served on a Monday, of course!
Nolamaven/Flickr
There are endless combinations when it comes to po’boys. From roast beef to oyster to shrimp, everyone has a go-to restaurant that they frequent when they’re in the mood for this iconic sandwich.
Peggydebeliso/Trip Advisor
This soul-satisfying Cajun delicacy has just the right amount of spice to it and many crave it when they move away.
jc.winkler/Flickr
Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it! And once you’ve tried it, you’ll love it.
Shreveport-Bossier/Flickr
This tasty delicacy is a significant part of the Cajun tradition and it’s absolutely worth a road trip to Cajun Country to try authentic boudin.
Ernesto Andrade/Flickr
This Cajun specialty is the ultimate road-trip snack, and when you drive out to Cajun Country to pick up that boudin, be sure to grab some of these little morsels for the road.
Dennis Amith/Flickr
Jambalaya is one of those dishes that you have a recipe for that feeds a small army, but the best part is that it keeps well in the fridge for a few days, so you can enjoy leftovers all week.
mulaohu/Flickr
This gargantuan sandwich was invented in New Orleans in 1906 at Central Grocery, and locals have been waiting in line to get them ever since.
Lindsay Attaway/Flickr
Is it even Mardi Gras if you don’t have a slice of King Cake? The flavors are endless, but original cinnamon is the most popular. During Mardi Gras, these things are pretty hard to avoid. You can find them in grocery stores, bakeries, your office break room, and just about every family gathering during the season.
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