Justin Wilson is a Cajun cookbook author, cooking show host, and expert on Louisiana style Cajun cooking. In 1960, he published his first cookbook, The Justin Wilson Cookbook, which led to his successful cooking career. He launched a cooking show on PBS, as well as Mississippi Educational Television. Justin Wilson popularized Cajun recipes and made Cajun food accessible to folks outside of New Orleans and the South. His famous slogan, "I garontee" warmed his fan's hearts and left them eager to tune in.
Wilson passed away in 2001, but his legacy as The Cajun Cook lives on. Read on for our 15 favorite Justin Wilson recipes.
1. Gumbo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSvVWuKp8Js
On his show, Louisiana Cookin', Wilson taught viewers how to make a classic gumbo. Wilson uses onions, bell pepper, white wine, Worcestershire sauce, and Louisiana hot sauce. The meat can be chicken or andouille sausage. The most important part of the gumbo is the roux. Wilson instructs, "You cook dat til you tink, dat's gonna burn, but dat's not what it did, see y'gots to cook dat til it's like Dutch chocolate, y'see?"
Get the recipe here.
2. Fried Catfish
To ensure a crispy crust, you'll need all-purpose flour, as well as corn flour. The catfish gets its spicy kick from Cajun seasoning and hot sauce.
Get the recipe here.
3. Dried Red Beans
The trick to these beans is letting them soak overnight. The next morning, heat olive oil in a pot, add your meat of choice, add beans, and let stew for several hours.
Get the recipe here.
4. Shrimp Creole
This simple recipe comes together in about 60 minutes. You sauté your onion and pepper mixture, add the shrimp and tomatoes, and stew. Enjoy this thick mixture over rice.
Get the recipe here.
5. Jambalaya
Justin's jambalaya uses andouille sausage and ground cayenne pepper for that spicy kick.
Get the recipe here.
6. Picnic Potato Salad
The addition of boiled eggs, saltines, sweet relish and green onions makes this recipe unique and delicious. The real kicker though, is the lack of potatoes in this salad.
Get the recipe here.
7. Boiled Crawfish
This recipe is perfect when hosting a large family gathering. It calls for 50 lbs of crawfish and 24 red potatoes.
Get the recipe here.
8. Macaroni, Sausage, and Pecan Casserole
This unconventional casserole combines sausage, cheese, eggs, and pecans. This makes a fun side dish or main meal.
Get the recipe here.
9. Creole Okra and Tomatoes
This simple recipe only uses tomatoes, okra, bell pepper, onions, salt and black pepper. It makes a great vegetarian side dish.
Get the recipe here.
10. Hushpuppies
This recipe from his book, Cookin' Cajun, calls for cornmeal, plain flour, and baking powder to create a dough. Garlic powder and bacon drippings are added for extra flavor.
Get the recipe here.
11. Dirty Rice
This rice gets its name from the addition of gizzards into the rice. Gizzards are the liver and stomach of the animal and essential to the flavor of the rice.
Get the recipe here.
12. Chicken a La Creole
Similar to a chicken stew, this hearty dish is best served over rice with a slice of bread.
Get the recipe here.
13. Buffalo Dip
Just like the name, this dip is inspired by buffalo chicken wings. It even uses Justin Wilson's chicken wing sauce.
Get the recipe here.
14. Peach Cobbler
Justin Wilson is not a dessert person, which is why you'll find very few dessert recipes. This peach cobbler is one of the few and for good reason!
Get the recipe here.
15. Pork Roast
This pork roast gets an added kick from fresh jalapeño or serrano peppers.
Get the recipe here.
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