What exactly is Cajun cuisine? Cajun is the term that is used to describe food that originates from French-speaking immigrants based in Louisiana. It is one of the most unique cuisines in the world. Cajun food is often described as rustic. This is because the ingredients used in Cajun recipes are local and organic. Cajun food is also a breeze to prepare and for this reason, it has quickly become a favorite among many people. Cajun meals are often three-fold. One pot contains the main dish; the second contains steamed rice and sausages or seafood, while the third dish typically contains vegetables or anything else that is readily available. Cajun cuisine also makes generous use of ground cayenne and black pepper. Many Cajun dishes contain bell pepper, celery and onion.
Boudin is one of the most popular dishes served in Cajun restaurants in St. Louis. Boudin is a kind of sausage that is made of green onions, pork, garlic, rice and pork liver. It is typically cooked on a daily basis as it does not keep for long periods of time. In Cajun restaurants, boudin is usually served alongside bread or rice dressing. Boudin balls are also popular especially in restaurants in Southern Louisiana
Cajun Food St. Louis
| St. Louis Cajun Restaurants | Phone | Location |
| Balentine’s Restaurant and Bar | 314-833-4339 | Soulard, Lafayette Square |
| BB’s Jazz Blues & Soups | 314-436-5222 | Downtown |
| Bones French Quarter | 314-391-8291 | West County |
| Boogalo | 314-645-4803 | Maplewood |
| Broadway Oyster Bar | 314-621-8811 | Downtown |
| Evangeline’s | 314-367-3644 | Central West End |
| Gulf Shores | Multiple Locations | Creve Coeur & Edwardsville |
| Hardshell Cafe | 314-231-1869 | Soulard |
| Juniper | 314-329-7696 | Central West End |
| Lotawata | 618-628-7373 | Fairview Heights |
| Molly’s | 314-241-6200 | Soulard |
| Sassy Jac’s | 314-923-1080 | Soulard |
| Sister Cities Cajun | 314-405-0447 | Benton PArk |
| The Kitchen Sink | 314-454-1551 | Central West End |
| Zydeco Blues Bar | 314-858-1158 | West County |
Another favourite in restaurants serving Cajun/creole cuisine is gumbo. Gumbo is a type of soup that contains a gauntlet of food items. The heavy influence of African and Native American cultures on Cajun cuisine becomes evident with this signature Cajun dish. Sassafras leaves are used for the thickening of this stew. A classic gumbo recipe usually contains chicken and andouille (a Cajun sausage) but ingredients can vary depending on what is available at the moment.
Jambalaya is a food item that is almost always present in Cajun restaurants. It bears similarities to paella but does not contain any saffron and it usually contains chicken, beef, shrimp or crawfish. Hot chilli peppers, green peppers, celery and onion are also found in most jambalaya recipes.
Other popular Cajun dishes at St. Louis Restaurants include potato salad, poutine, gumbo des herbes, Cajun rice, couche couche, crepe, boiled crawfish, brochette, maque choux, seafood-stuffed mirliton, tasso, tarte a la bouillie, catfish court-bouillion, pecan pralines, crawfish etouffee, crawfish bisque, fried frog legs, hog’s head cheese, rice and gravy, cochon de lait, etoufee, dirty rice, and crawfish pie.
Popular desserts served at include bananas foster bread pudding, white chocolate mousse, berries artesia, whiskey balls, cherries jubilee, sweet potato pone, creole bread pudding with whiskey, strawberry shortcake, bread pudding soufflé, spumone, candied yam and white chocolate ice cream, semolina soufflé cake, chocolates crepes with fresh strawberries, pecan pie, chocolate doberge cake, fig and pecan pie, king cake, key lime pie, and gateau de sirop.