By Poppy Tooker on September 8, 2016
Native New Orleanian Poppy Tooker presents a classic Big Easy Thanksgiving dinner natives will recognize and newcomers will savor. The renowned chef, cooking teacher and radio-show host shares nine recipes that aptly represent the rich flavors and history of the region—and are sure to jazz up your Thanksgiving menu. Ready to add authentic Southern flair to your Thanksgiving feast? Let’s dig in!
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores.
Classic Louisiana shrimp salad
“This is the perfect way to start a meal; the flavors are so bright,” says Poppy.
Seafood gumbo
“This is my most-sought-after recipe. Nobody takes a cooking class in New Orleans from me without learning how to make gumbo,” says Poppy. Serve this classic Creole dish over cooked rice.
Stuffed mirlitons
“When my great-grandmother died, she didn’t leave written recipes,” says Poppy. “So I cooked everything I remembered eating at her table, including these mirlitons, and had my daddy taste it until he said, ‘Yes, this is just like Mamman’s.’ “
Poppy's fried turkey with spicy bourbon marinade
“I will never roast a turkey again in this lifetime, and it’s my bet, once you fry your first turkey, your bird will never be relegated to the oven again,” says Poppy.
Mamman's oyster rice dressing
“Bread stuffing would never have had a place in the rural parts of Louisiana where Mamman was from because wheat didn’t grow there,” Poppy explains. “Down here, we’re all about rice.” Poppy also offers these additional side dishes to add to your Thanksgiving table: Meat Dressing and Peas in a Roux.
Bread pudding with hard sauce
“Mamman’s bread pudding made a big impression on me as a small child when it would come to the table dripping with sauce and filled with plump raisins and pecans,” Poppy remembers.
Café Brûlot
“Café brûlot is from the Armagnac region of France, where they call it café diable,” says Poppy. “I learned to make this from enjoying it at classic New Orleans restaurants, like Antoine’s and Galatoire’s, where it’s a standard ending to any festive meal.”
Additional sides to try: Meat Dressing and Peas in a Roux.
- Tags:
- Celebrate
- Create
- Credits:
For more of Poppy's culinary magic, stop by her website: poppytooker.com
Poppy Tooker is a lifelong New Orleanian who champions New Orleans food and culture. She hosts Louisiana Eats!, a weekly, NPR-affiliated radio show, and appears every Friday on Steppin' Out, an arts and entertainment show on WYES television. In between shows, she writes about food, teaches classes and makes sure her three Chinese pugs are fat and happy!
Shop Thanksgiving
See allYou may also like
See more-
Calendar Flip Woo-Hoo—summer’s here! June 2024 holidays and celebrations
Summer is here in all her glory and we are ready. Warm days and cool drinks lay ahead. So it’s time to flip the ca...
-
Calendar Flip Yay for May! May 2024 holidays and celebrations
Flowers are blooming, students are graduating and moms are getting some well-deserved appreciation. What a fabulou...
-
Calendar Flip Welcome back, spring! April 2024 holidays and celebrations
Oh, spring, we’ve missed you most of all. We don’t even care that you bring showers—we’re just excited to be outsi...
-
Easter Easter basket ideas for all ages: DIY decorations, gifts and more
Excited to get hopping on those Easter baskets? We love to see it. And we love to inspire it, too! So we’ve put toget...
-
Free printable classroom posters to brighten the school day
Are you a teacher, or do you know a great teacher? (Um, who doesn’t?) Here’s a simple way to encourage kindness and c...
-
Graduation The College Survival Guide: Make the perfect graduation gift even better
The College Survival Guide was created to turn the most-requested high school graduation present (money) into a de...
-
Easter 25+ ways to make Easter extra fun for kids
When it comes to Easter, we love leaning in to joy, faith and the beauty in creating core memories for the whole fami...
-
Birthday 25+ ideas for creative, personal birthday care packages
When a friend’s birthday rolls around and you can’t be together to celebrate, the next best thing is to bring the cel...
-
Valentine's Day 200+ Valentine’s Day gift ideas for everyone in your heart
In junior high, I made a giant Valentine’s Day collage for my first girlfriend. She loved it. Was it amazing or dorky...
-
Valentine's Day DIY Valentine's Day treat bags for kids
One of the best things about kids valentine treat bags is the surprise element—there could be anything in there! But ...
-
Calendar Flip Hello, Love: February 2024 Holidays and Observances
Let’s warm up this cold month with love and connections. From valentine cards to dressing up your pet, this month has...
-
Calendar Flip Spring Forward: March 2024 Holidays and Observances
Color us excited! From the wearin’ of the green and more sunny fun to colorful Holi festivals and celebrating crayons...
-
Calendar Flip Welcome a New Year: January 2024 Holidays and Observances
HAPPY NEW YEAR! If that hurt your head, you might have celebrated a little too much. When you’re feeling better, we h...
-
Christmas Christmas wishes: What to write in a Christmas card
Get sample messages, tips and watch our new video guide to write the perfect Christmas card.
-
Gift Wrapping 4 cute and creative ways to wrap gifts for kids
There’s something extra fun about wrapping gifts for kids. Maybe it’s the look on their faces when they’re handed a r...
-
Winter What is Lunar New Year?: Shining a light on a celebration shared by billions
Lunar New Year is celebrated by an estimated 2 billion people around the world. It’s a holiday that marks the arrival...
-
Winter Find your Chinese zodiac sign just in time for Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is the longest, most celebrated event for billions of people in Asian communities around the world. Ea...
-
Kids Free Black History Month coloring pages to celebrate with the family or in the classroom
There are so many way to celebrate Black History Month. And we absolutely love the ones that can be done as a family ...
-
Birthday 60+ winter birthday party ideas for kids and adults
Having a winter birthday can be pretty bittersweet. On one hand, there’s literally magic in the air around your big d...
-
Christmas 60+ Christmas appetizer ideas for any kind of holiday gathering
Gathering to share joy with the people we care about is one of the best things about Christmas. And while sitting dow...
