Low-fat marinated vegetable platter with crisp broccoli, carrots, celery, red pepper, olives, and artichoke hearts in tangy Italian dressing. Make-ahead appetizer that gets better as it chills.
Grilled alligator tail steaks marinated in milk with rosemary, red pepper flakes, and cayenne. A Cajun-style grill recipe that tenderizes this lean, mild meat.
Herb-crusted trout fillets pan-fried in brown butter with Dijon mustard, five fresh herbs, and garlic chili spinach on the side. A restaurant-quality fish dinner in 30 minutes.
Cajun turnovers stuffed with the holy trinity of onion, bell pepper, and celery plus long grain rice, mushrooms, and hot sauce, wrapped in flaky crescent dough. A Festival favorite.
Grilled curry chicken rice salad layers yogurt-marinated chicken strips over curried rice with bell pepper, snow peas, raisins, and peanuts. Cool Indian-inspired main for hot weather.
Bold brisket marinade paste with Szechuan peppercorns, garlic, paprika, lemongrass oil, dry mustard, and red wine. Score the meat, rub it in, and marinate for several days for deep flavor penetration.
Authentic Yucatán cochinita pibil with achiote-marinated pork, banana leaf wrap and habanero orange salsa. Traditional Mayan pit-style slow-roasted pork for tacos.
Napa cabbage and cilantro slaw with red bell pepper in a lime-garlic dressing with red pepper flakes. A crisp, light Asian-style coleslaw that's mayo-free and ready in 20 minutes.
Beef satay skewers with a homemade curried peanut dipping sauce. Sirloin cubes broiled on bamboo skewers and served with a rich, spicy peanut butter sauce.
Vegetable lasagna roll-ups: noodles wrapped around a three-cheese, spinach, eggplant, and white bean filling, baked in a robust red wine tomato sauce. Individual vegetarian lasagna portions, no layering.
Homemade Italian sausage with ground pork, fennel, garlic, parsley, and red pepper flakes. DIY recipe, casings optional, makes 2 pounds.
Cuscusu is a Sicilian shellfish and couscous soup with mussels, clams, shrimp, and scallops in a saffron-tomato broth. Steamed couscous served in bowls with a rich seafood stew ladled over.
Vegetarian corn-stuffed bell peppers with a double-corn filling, creamed corn and kernels bound with cornbread crumbs, garlic, onion, and red pepper flakes. Basted in vegetable broth for tender, juicy shells.
Thai peanut pork chops stir-fried in a creamy peanut butter, honey, and soy sauce with ginger, cucumber, and green onions. Marinated for 30 minutes, cooked in 10.
Silky dumpling wrappers made from just flour and water, kneaded until soft and elastic. Roll thin, fill with your favorite filling, and boil using the 3-water method.
Louisiana seafood gumbo with shrimp, oysters, crab, okra, and a dark roux served over rice with file powder. An authentic Cajun stew loaded with Gulf seafood and smothered okra.