• 12 Creole tomatoes, quartered and cored
• 2 large yello onions, quartered and peeled
• 1 red pepper, quartered and seeded
• 6 cloves whole garlic
• 3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for garnish
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• red pepper flakes to taste
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 6-inch stale French bread, broken into pieces
• 2 quarts chicken stock
• croutons, goat cheese, basil, for garnisn (optional)

Roasted Creole Tomato Soup

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• 3 large ripe tomatoes, preferably Creole
• ¼ cup top-quality olive oil
• 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 garlic clove, pressed in a garlic press
• ice water
• 1 small white onion, peeled, halved, and thinly sliced
• 1 Romaine heart, or butter lettuce leaves
• salt and pepper to taste
• ¼ cup crumbled feta
• ¼ cup capers

Chilled Tomato Platter

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Per Serving:

• 1 medium Creole tomato
• 2 ounces Louisiana jumbo lump crabmeat
• 1 tablespoon Ravigote sauce (recipe follows)
• 1 tablespoon Lemon Confit (recipe follows)
• salt and pepper
• onion, thinly sliced (optional)
• radishes, thinly sliced (optional

Ravigote Sauce:

• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1½ whole lemons, juiced
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh tarragon, minced
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
• 1 hard-boiled egg, minced
• 1 teaspoon Louisiana hot sauce, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
• 2 tablespoons capers, drained
• ¼ cup red bell pepper, diced small
• 1 tablespoons finely diced poblano pepper

Lemon Confit:

• 6 whole lemons, washed, trimmed at both ends, and cut into 6 wedges
• 6 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• olive oil, to cover

Louisiana Jumbo Lump Crab with Creole Tomatoes

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• 4 slices thick-cut smoked bacon 
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 cups chopped Creole tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 cup water 
• ¼ cup thinly sliced fresh basil, divided  
• ¼ cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley, divided
• salt and pepper
• 3 tablespoons Cajun Power Garlic Sauce*
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil  
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Creole or Cajun seasoning 

Chicken with Smoked Bacon and Creole Tomato Sauce

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• 1 store-bought rotisserie chicken
• 1 large head Romaine lettuce, cored, torn into bite-sized pieces
• 2 carrots, peeled, sliced very thin
• 1 rib celery, sliced very thin
• 1/4 pound tasso or smoked ham, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped green onion
• Fresh Creole Tomato Vinaigrette (recipe here)
• 4 ounces white Cheddar cheese, finely cubed
• 4 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled and quartered
• black pepper
• Garlic Baguette Melba Toast (recipe here)

Louisiana Chef's Salad

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• 4 6 oz trout fillets

• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1  cup diced Creole tomatoes, seeded and peeled
• 2  tablespoons chopped basil
• 1/4 cup Niçoise olives
• 2 tablespoons capers with juice
• 1 cup dry white wine or chicken stock
• salt, to taste
• black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup seasoned flour
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 4 sprigs basil for garnish tomato sauce, for serving 

Chef's notes: Although this recipe has Mediterranean origins, it is similar to many Creole dishes. Any Gulf fish can be substituted for trout.

Fillet of Trout Nicoise

Video of Cooking Demonstration Available

• 2 large ripe Creole tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, in all
• salt, to taste
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 pound Louisiana shrimp (21-25 count)
• 4 ounces arugula
• Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette, for serving
• (recipe follows)
• fresh soft herbs, for garnish, such as
• parsley, tarragon, or chives
•  

Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette
Makes about 1 1/4 cups dressing 

• 2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
• 1 teaspoon minced preserved lemon
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon
• 1 teaspoon Louisiana honey
• 1/2 teaspoon minced shallot
• 1/8 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 cup canola or vegetable oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• to taste

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 pounds turtle meat, trimmed of all sinew and cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• 8 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium-size onions, chopped finely
• 4 stalks celery, chopped fine
• 2 medium-size green bell peppers, chopped finely
• 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt, to taste
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 medium-size Creole tomatoes, seeded and chopped finely
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 quarts beef stock
• 1 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons Crystal brand pepper sauce, or other relatively mild pepper sauce
• 2 tablespoons Italian (flat-leaf) parsley leaves, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped
• 5 large eggs, hard-boiled, chopped fine
• 6 ounces fresh spinach, washed, stemmed and leaves slices fine
• zest of 3 lemons, chopped fine
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/3 cup good-quality pale sherry

• 3 cups flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 cups milk
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 pound butter, melted
• 1 onion diced
• 1 red bell pepper diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper diced
• 4 ears roasted sweet corn
• black pepper and cayenne to taste
• 1 pound Louisiana crawfish tails, minced

Creole Tomato Aioli

• 4 Creole tomatoes
• 2 cups mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• black pepper and cayenne to taste

Roasted Sweet Corn and Crawfish Griddle Cake

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• 3 cups diced Creole tomatoes
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped basil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp chopped thyme
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• salt and black pepper, to taste
• granulated garlic, to taste
• 25 basil leaves
• 25 French bread croutons

Chef's note: “I first discovered this old-world delicacy while having lunch with Father John Lacari, a wonderful Italian priest, who brought this dish here from Italy. Although simple to produce, the flavors are indescribable. Try it not only as an hors d'oeuvre, but also as the perfect garnish to any Italian or Southwest dish.”