London Jazz Festival

The annual London Jazz Festival launches this week. As the biggest pan-city music festival in Europe, it brings over 100,000 audience members together at 300 live shows at venues across the city, from basement jazz bars to the world’s finest concert halls. The festival is the highlight of the jazz calendar in the UK, and so this week we are looking at the flavour of jazz through the Cajun and Creole food of New Orleans.

Cajun vs. Creole

These two cuisines are strikingly similar, so it’s often hard to tell the difference. You may hear Creole cuisine referred to as “city food” and Cajun as “country food,” so that’s an easy way to get a heads-up. While the spice profiles are generally similar, you’ll find that Creole food is a little richer and may contain more butter or creamy sauces.

Cajun cooking is influenced by traditional French cuisine. The word Cajun has its origins in the French les Acadiens—a group of Acadian settlers from present-day Nova Scotia who settled in rural South Louisiana in the 18th century. Being farther away from large trading hubs, the Cajuns looked to the land and the ingredients available to them.

This cuisine is based on generous seasoning and uses plenty of meat, including seafood (especially shellfish), game and pork.

Creole culture is the older of the two cuisines, and blends Spanish, African, Portuguese, Italian, Native American and Caribbean influences.

 Some of the best known dishes include Dirty Rice (or rice dressing as it’s referred to in the bayou) is a delicious Louisiana staple made mainly of rice, ground pork sausage, ground beef, the holy trinity of vegetables (onion, bell pepper, and celery), and sometimes offal such as liver. 

Smoked Sausage Cajun Alfredo If you love gumbo and jambalaya, this recipe has got to be next on your list.

Cajun-Spiced Chicken & Gnocchi brings all the flavours we associate with New Orleans int one pan.

Instant Pot Jambalaya, this Instant Pot is a great way to make jambalaya, a Cajun classic, in just an hour.

Cajun Butter Steak is herby, salty, and a bit sweet, it’s a sauce which will always have you coming back for more.