You can't celebrate Mardi Gras without food, even in 2021 when celebrations will look different! How will you get fat on this Tuesday without lots of indulgent treats and special fare that only makes an appearance once a year at the Mardi Gras parties, parades, and celebrations?
I have never been to a real New Orleans Mardi Gras parade or any of the associated activities because the idea of being around that many festive people at once is too much. Maybe one day I will get a balcony room on a parade route, because that seems to be the way to enjoy it! For now, food is as close as we will get.
Mardi Gras Colors
You'll see lots of purple, green, and gold in these treats, and for good reason — they are the official colors of Mardi Gras. Many people know the colors have symbolism. Purple is for justice, green is for faith, and gold of course, is for power (the kind comes from money!).
But MardiGrasNewOrleans.com says the truth about the colors is a little less neatly packaged than that. But really, who cares, bright colors in a dreary winter season are always welcomed!
Mardi Gras Snacks
Mardi Gras Cream Horns
Celebrate Mardi Gras with individually served desserts in the form of cream horns that are filled with chocolate and cream, and drizzled with Mardi Gras colored white chocolate ganache and festive sprinkles!
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Bundt King Cake
Celebrate Mardi Gras without having to make a whole king cake. Make a bundt style king cake with a pound cake pan, sugar, and traditional Mardi Gras colored sprinkles!
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Mardi Gras Beignets
Use purple, green, and yellow sanding sugar to create colored powdered sugar to decorate these puffy, delicious, and simple to make Mardi gras beignets!
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Frozen Vegetable Gumbo
Use frozen vegetables to make a gumbo that'll have you dreaming about a trip to New Orleans without having to go farther than your freezer!
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Mardi Gras Jello Shots
The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are yellow, green, and purple are combined into Jello shots without having to use packaged Jello. Choose your own flavors too!
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Grilled Cajun Kebabs
Celebrate Mardi Gras with traditional colors in this vegetable-filled kebab where you can use real sausage or meat alternatives.
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Louisiana Style Fried Alligator Nuggets
Ever tried alligator? It's been said to taste like chicken, and it's true, but with a briney taste too! Find out for yourself with these Louisiana style fried alligator nuggets — the recipe is straight from Kenner!
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Daiquiris and Drinks
Drinks are part of what make the party get truly rolling for Mardi Gras, so pull out the rum and the blender. If you need a booze-free but still festive option, try the brightly hued lavender lemonade.
Strawberry Lavender Daiquiris
Add a subtle layer of floral flavor with lavender simple syrup in these strawberry lavender daiquiris that use a family secret for great frozen drinks!
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Blueberry Daiquiris
Put your frozen blueberries to good use and blend them up with rum for a new and fruity twist on the berry daiquiri. Move over strawberries, the blueberry daiquiri is here.
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Persimmon Daiquiri
Enjoy the fruits of winter with a thick, frosty persimmon daiquiri and forget all of your holiday troubles. This thick, orange cocktail is unlike any daiquiri you've ever had before.
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Lavender Lemonade
Chill out and cool down with lavender lemonade. Make it purple with food coloring if you want, or enjoy a paler lavender color.
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Virtual Carnival
With the pandemic still being a concern, Mardi Gras looks a lot different in the Big Easy too. People have decorated their houses to look like floats! Eater rounded up the best food themed house floats, and they are spectacular. There are several ways to participate virtually, from king cake baking class events, to a self 5k, and a virtual tour of the Mardi Gras Museum.
It may not be quite the same carefree event as usual, but use a little creativity! Then you can enjoy it almost the same way as if you were on the parade route. Go throw up in the street in front of your house and lay in the yard to get a little but of that Bourbon Street feeling without having to worry about being pickpocketed in your moment of misery. Just kidding, don't get wasted, just eat too much food and drink moderately. Enjoy the Carnival season!
