You can't talk about Mardi Gras without mentioning New Orleans — from beignets to po'boys, gumbo to remoulade, and everything in between, the Big Easy is a veritable food fest during this two-week long celebration. So why not bring a bit of that home by cooking up a Mardi Gras feast, New Orleans style?

Here are nine recipes to get the party started.  

Shrimp Po'Boys with Quick Remoulade
A perfect base recipe, feel free to riff on our classic with a combination of seafood, such as oysters, crawfish and shrimp for this delectable sandwich. Hosting a large group? Make it mini by using dinner rolls in place of the baguette, divide the shrimp and toppings equally between them and set in place with a fancy toothpick for a little taste of New Orleans. 
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Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo
The key to a deeply rich gumbo is patience: When making the roux, stir constantly so the flour darkens to the color of chocolate, but be careful that it doesn't burn. No need to worry as much about the chicken and broth — pre-bought broth and a rotisserie chicken will do just fine and give you just as much flavor. 
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Shrimp and Crawfish Etouffee
From the French word that literally means “to smother”, this dish is all about the sauce, thanks to a rich gravy made from a mix of onions, carrots, peppers and shrimp shells, which you can get from your local grocery store — they’ll be glad to sell them to you. Perfect for a dinner party, this hearty dish is best served with white rice or grits and is super adaptable. Once you've made the rich, flavorful base sauce, feel free to use what ever seafood is readily available. 
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Red Beans and Rice
This simple and tasty side dish is loaded with classic Cajun ingredients like Tasso ham, green bell peppers and file powder, which is a unique Cajun ingredient made from ground sassafras leaves that adds a distinctly bitter, herbaceous flavor. Make it vegetarian by omitting the meats and adding in some canned tomatoes for a savory punch. 
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Shrimp and Grits with Andouille Gravy
Shrimp and grits is just one of those recipes that can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Made with creamy stone-ground grits and sweetly plump shrimp, this dish is iconic in New Orleans. Here smoky andouille sausage helps to not only add additional flavor to the dish but texture as well. 
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Quick Beignets
Nothing really beats a beignet. Fluffy, fried and covered in a healthy amount of powdered sugar, these little fritters will go fast! Our version makes quick work of an otherwise all-day recipe and can easily be scaled up, making this a crowd favorite at parties or a party of one — you deserve it. 
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Easy Almond King Cake
Finish off your Mardi Gras fete with something sweet and just the right amount of decadent with this classic cake. We’ve lightened up this sugary dessert by using puff pastry sheets, which not only save time, but gives the cake a buttery, flaky texture. Just don’t forget the green, yellow and purple sugar sprinkles! 
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Buttermilk Pralines
Pralines are the unofficial candy of New Orleans. They are not too difficult to make, plus they taste great, so you have to try these buttermilk pecan pralines for your next family get together. Trust us, you'll be happy you did.
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New Orleans-Style Pimm's Cup recipe
What would this round up be without also including one of New Orleans most popular drinks? The Pimm's Cup is a herbaceous, refreshing cocktail that is light enough to be sipped on all day long but strong enough to stand up to the flavors of these delicious dishes. 
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Photos (Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo, Quick Beignets, and Easy Almond King Cake, Prailines): Ramona King 
Photo (shrimp and grits): Ideabar Austin
Photo (Pimms Cup): Ryan Hughley