shrimp gumbo, recipes for mardi gras
AlamyFor many people, Mardi Gras is associated more with drinks than food -- as in slurping down lots of Hurricane's along the Mardi Gras parade route in New Orleans. But Mardi Gras -- "Fat Tuesday" -- is also a final celebration before Lent. It's called "Fat Tuesday" because this is the time when Catholics traditionally used up fat (such as butter) before a period of fasting and abstention between Ash Wednesday and Easter (many Catholics still observe the Lenten practices of giving something up -- such as desserts -- throughout Lent and abstaining from meat on Fridays).

So in Louisiana, Mardi Gras -- whether you're Catholic or not -- is most definitely about indulging in not just drink but also good, rich Cajun and Creole food like the dishes below.