Carnival flavor starts here: these 8 Mardi Gras recipes bring joy, spice, and sweet indulgence

Friday 20 February 2026 15:40
Carnival flavor starts here: these 8 Mardi Gras recipes bring joy, spice, and sweet indulgence
We love celebrations here at Petit Chef, especially Mardi Gras, and for one specific reason: it is actually all about food! Yes, Fat Tuesday is the best day of the year to go crazy with your stomach and not feel guilty about it!

1. Pancakes

Maybe you heard about this day that is all about pancakes (yes it’s wonderful), but why is that? What does it have to do with Mardi Gras? Actually, Fat Tuesday is just before Ash Wednesday, that starts the Christian season of Lent, during which people fast until Easter. So Mardi Gras is actually about enjoying food you love for the last time before a long and hard fast. And why pancakes? Because people had to finish their eggs and milk, and this recipe is the best way to achieve that!


Pancakes - video recipe !Recipe Pancakes - video recipe !

Want a typical american breakfast ? Try out this recipe, perfect for fluffy and moist pancakes ! Add some chocolate chips or blueberries, and you'll get the fanciest breakfast !

2. Jambalaya

The Jambalaya is an iconic dish from Louisiana, mixing rice and meat. Maybe you heard the famous song Jambalaya (on the Bayou) by Hank Williams, celebrating this loved and known dish. Any Mardi Gras table should have a Jambalaya on it, celebrating the cajun and creole culture!


Creole ham jambalayaRecipe Creole ham jambalaya

In a large heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and add the pork, onions, green pepper, celery, garlic and parsley. Sauté until mixture is light brown.

3. Shrimp and grits

Another iconic dish, ambassador of Southern cuisine in all the United States! Using Cajun spices, this dish brings together fried shrimp with a savory corn meal. A nice recipe to celebrate Mardi Gras and Southern food.


Southern comfort: creamy cheddar grits with shrimp...Recipe Southern comfort: creamy cheddar grits with shrimp...

Peel and devein 1 libra. medium shrimp (20-30/libras). Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons. Cajun spice of your choice and stir to combine.

4. Beignets

Declared the official Louisiana doughnut in 1986, this is the French way to make doughnuts. Really popular in New Orleans, this sweet dessert is an emblematic food to eat for Mardi Gras, even in France!


Mardi gras diamond-shaped donuts - video recipe !Recipe Mardi gras diamond-shaped donuts - video recipe !

Have a Mardi Gras celebration in your kitchen ! Here are the donuts that french people usually eat during Fat Tuesday celebrations ! Easy to bake, try these out now !

5. Dirty rice

Yes, it maybe isn’t the best appealing name for a dish, but it is really better that it sounds! It is actually called that way because of the color the rice turns into while cooking with chicken livers, bell peppers and onions. So, not that dirty after all!


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6. Red Beans and Rice

Staying with Creole Louisiana cuisine, it is traditionally made on Mondays, but, let’s get crazy and cook it during Fat Tuesday! Fun fact, it was Louis Armstrong’s favorite dish, and it led him to sign his letters with “Red Beans and Ricely Yours, Louis Armstrong”.


Cajun red beans and riceRecipe Cajun red beans and rice

Pick through beans and remove any pieces of dirt or shrivled beans. Rinse well and drain in a colander.

7. King Cake

Even if a lot of countries associate the King Cake with the Epiphany festival, in other places, it is commonly eaten for Mardi Gras. Find the bean inside, and become the king of the festival! This hollow circle brioche is covered with colored frosting to represent the celebration of Fat Tuesday!


8. Planter's punch

Because a good cocktail has always its place in a celebration, here we chose a French Creole cocktail, Planter’s Punch. Rum and tropical fruit juices are getting together to give you the happiest cocktail ever! And guess where the name cocktail is from? New Orleans!


Planter's punch - video recipe !Recipe Planter's punch - video recipe !

Travel to french Carribean trying this splendid cocktail that everyone loves !

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