Today is Mardi Gras and the last day to eat, drink & be merry before Lent begins. It is the culmination of Carnival Season which starts on January 6th every year and lasts until the day before Ash Wednesday, the date of which varies each year. Of all American cities, New Orleans is best known for the pre-Lenten Carnival celebrations. While there are many specific foods associated with Mardi Gras, (gumbo, jambalaya, king cake, shrimp & grits, étouffée, beignets) some chicken with Cajun spices is our choice to celebrate it this year.

Cajun cuisine is at the heart of New Orleans, a great city we recently visited for the first time last fall. It is the style of cooking of the French-speaking people that resettled in Louisiana after the six colonial wars of the 17th & 18th centuries. Cajun is a rustic cuisine, characterized by locally available ingredients, simply prepared. Bell peppers, onions, and Cajun seasoning make this chicken dish into a Cajun masterpiece. The Cajun seasoning is a mix of 12 herbs & spices, including black & cayenne peppers. It has a powerful punch of heat, so use it minimally if you are averse to spicy foods!

Cajun Chicken

Cajun Chicken (adapted from delish.com) Makes: 4 servings, Total Time Required: 50 minutes, Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 30 – 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 – 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning

Prep the veggies & garlic before starting to cook.

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large oven proof skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onions and peppers and cook until they are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute it all for 1 minute more. Season the veggies with salt and pepper. Remove them from the heat and let them cool slightly.

Saute the onions & red pepper.

With a sharp paring knife, split open each chicken breast without slicing all the way through the breast. Fill each one with some of the vegetable mixture.

Stuff the breasts with the veggie mix.

Add a bit of the cheese on top of the veggies, then sprinkle a bit of the Cajun seasoning over the cheese.

Add some cheese & seasonings on top of the veggies.

Close each breast, season them all over with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper, then top them with the remaining cheddar cheese. Use 1/4 to 1-1/2 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning per chicken breast, depending on the spiciness desired.

Season the chicken then top with the remaining cheese.

Add the chicken to the skillet and bake until it is cooked through, about 30-40 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. Serve immediately.

This is a Cajun inspired Mardi Gras dish!

This New Orleans food is for Mardi Gras!  ~Linda

Cajun Chicken (adapted from delish.com) Makes: 4 servings, Total Time Required: 50 minutes, Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 30 – 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 – 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large oven proof skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onions and peppers and cook until they are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute it all for 1 minute more. Season the veggies with salt and pepper. Remove them from the heat and let them cool slightly.

With a sharp paring knife, split open each chicken breast without slicing all the way through the breast. Fill each one with some of the vegetable mixture. Add a bit of the cheese on top of the veggies, then sprinkle a bit of the Cajun seasoning over the cheese. Close each breast, season them all over with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper, then top them with the remaining cheddar cheese. Use 1/4 to 1-1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning per chicken breast, depending on the spiciness desired.

Add the chicken to the skillet and bake it until it is cooked through, about 30-40 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. Serve immediately.