A New Orleans pantry giveaway (Recipe: red bean and cheese burritos)

Laissez le bon temps rouller!

Although I don't speak Parisian or Provencal French, or Cajun French, or even the taxi-driver French my husband learned in Montreal, I know what this means.

Let the good times roll!

I still remember everything about our first visit to South Louisiana, where I learned the true meaning of laissez le bon temps rouller. Street life in the French Quarter. Zydeco, and jazz at Preservation Hall. The streetcar named Desire. Voodoo, plantation houses, and the pervading aroma of vinegar on Avery Island.

And the food? Oh, yes, the food: a beignet at Cafe du Monde, a muffaletta from Central Grocery, an oyster po' boy. Waiting on line for hours for shrimp etouffee at K-Paul's. Waiting on line in the middle of the street, with businessmen and politicians, for lunch at Galatoire's. Squeezing the crawfish tails and sucking the heads (or is it the other way around?) at Hymel's with the LSU game on the big-screen TV.

There is no more vibrant regional food culture in America than in New Orleans, and the nice folks at Zatarain's have offered a great New Orleans pantry giveaway to introduce you to some of the traditional foods of their home town.

Founded in 1889 as a producer of root beer extract, New Orleans-based Zatarain's makes more than 200 food products for authentic creole and cajun cooking, including creole mustard, spice blends, breading mixes, rice and beans, and their famous shrimp boil. There are several new lower-sodium products, including the rice and beans I use to make quickie burritos. And, yes, Zatarain's still sells that root beer extract, too.

The New Orleans pantry giveaway includes recipes created by Chef John Besh of Restaurant August (remember him from The Next Iron Chef?), as well as all of the products listed below:

Creole Mustard
Creole Seasoning
Hush Puppy Mix
Gumbo Mix with Rice
Concentrated Shrimp Boil (both liquid and dry)
Prepared Horseradish
Blackened Seasoning
Gumbo File
Root Beer Extract
Reduced Sodium Red Beans & Rice
Reduced Sodium Jambalaya
Reduced Sodium Dirty Rice
Chicken Bake & Crisp

All you need to do to be eligible to win the free New Orleans pantry is leave a comment on any post on this site between now and 11:00 p.m. Eastern US Time on Friday, October 24.

Creole mustard dip, photo courtesy of Zatarain's, recipe included with the New Orleans pantry giveaway

Next Saturday, one of my "random generators" will pull a comment out of a pumpkin, or out of something pumpkin-like, and the New Orleans pantry products will be shipped to one lucky reader, absolutely free. (Note: Sorry, shipping available to addresses in the continental United States only.)

You can find these products in your local supermarket or online; my little grocery in Rhode Island carries the new reduced-sodium red beans and rice and other products, in the aisle with rices and grains.

Every purchase helps support the New Orleans economy in its ongoing struggle to recover from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. And you'll have a great time recreating classics like jambalaya, etoufee, gumbo, dirty rice, and more.

So, go ahead, leave a comment -- discover the foods of Louisiana, and let the good times roll in your own kitchen.

RED BEAN AND CHEESE BURRITOS
A real 30-minute meal that everyone in the family will love. Add some leftover cooked chicken or beef, if you wish. Inspired by the Zatarain's web site, this recipe serves 8.

3-1/4 cups water
1 package red beans and rice mix
1-1/2 cups shredded cheese, divided
1 cup salsa (your favorite, hot or mild)
1-1/2 cups guacamole (your favorite store-bought, or homemade)
8 oat bran or whole wheat tortillas

Place water and red beans and rice mix in a 2-quart glass bowl. Stir to combine, cover with plastic wrap, and place in a microwave oven. Cook for 8 minutes on full power, then 12 minutes on medium power, stirring occasionally. The water should be mostly, but not entirely, absorbed. If it's too watery, cook on full powder, one minute at a time, as needed. Remove from the microwave and set aside for 5 minutes.

Stir half of the cheese into the rice and beans.

Heat the tortillas on a dry griddle or in a dry cast-iron frying pan, 1-2 minutes on each side, until pliable but not crispy. Place each tortilla on a plate; top with a bit of the rice and beans mixture, some shredded cheese, a bit of salsa and guacamole. Roll the tortillas, and serve.

[Printer-friendly recipes.]

More recipes in The Perfect Pantry:
Jambalaya
Shrimp etouffee
New England shrimp boil

Comments

[Natashya]

Oh! So unfair, I am Canadian. Oh well. I shall survive. ;)
It sounds like you have done a lot of travelling in your life.
We like to make burritos at our house too - they are fairly teen friendly.
Unfortunately we don't have a Latin market in our town so we have to make do with the regular grocers. I hope we get one nearby soon!

[Truc]

Oh nice! I just visited New Orleans for the first time during a road trip this last summer, but didn't think to gather recipes (just stuffed myself with beignets and called it a day), so this would definitely be sweet.

[noble pig]

I have never been to New Orleans but would love to go.

The burritos sound wonderful.

[Linda]

The burritos sound so good and healthful. I want to try some of your recipes. Would love to visit LA.

[anu]

this looks like a nice recipe for a quick veggie dinner. I hadn't thought about putting rice in burritos but I like the idea.

cheers,

Anu

[suzy]

sounds good

[Joel]

Root beer extract? I'd like to know how that's accomplished!

[Marcia]

On this blustery morning, I'd love to be sitting at the Cafe Du Monde, eating a (several) beignet and drinking a cup of chickory coffee.

[Reeni]

I want to go to New Orleans so badly and experience all the things the city is known for. It is #1 on my vacation list. I hope I get the chance. Red beans and rice is one of my favorites, great recipe!

[Penny]

I love the rice in burritos seems we always have a couple of extra teenage boys here at dinner time nice way to help stretch it. Just found your site and love it.

[Iris]

I live in San Diego where burritos are king. So what a yummy idea to combine them with red beans and rice. The best of many worlds I would say.

[Kalyn]

Great giveaway! I love New Orleans food; personally I think it's probably the best food city in the U.S. I made it there three different times for NEA meetings, so there were some great expense account dinners! Great idea to put the rice into a burrito, and what a great collection of tasty items.

[Abby]

I love New Orleans flavors and the burrito sounds like a quick and easy meal.

[Deena]

Beans and cheese--yummy! I am saving this recipe for sure!

[April in CT]

What an easy mail! And a great give away, thanks!

[mae]

The NOLA recipe I most want is the bread pudding that I had at one of the famous little neighborhood restaurants. It has bourbon, I think.

[Mike]

I love (and now very much crave) the zesty food of New Orleans. Those burritos sound delicious!

[cajun]

I grew up in New Orleans and it never occurred to me to make Red Bean burritos. That looks great, perfect for work lunches!

[Sean]

I've been to New Orleans only once, despite being a part of a group of friends that has celebrated Mardi Gras for more than 20 years. I remember practically every bite of everything I ate while we were there. The food is just incredible. Po'boys, étouffée, creole, beignets ... I'm salivating.

[Reba]

My husband is from Beaumont, Texas...not New Orleans but *very* close....when his family comes to visit we always get a care package with Cajun-y foods! What fun!

[Babs]

Zatarain products have been in my pantry for years, but I never thought of the burrito ideas. Sounds wonderful!! Thanks.

[Teresa]

I love New Orleans and anything Cajun. :-) Those burritos sound delicious and easy to make. Perfect for this busy family!

[Channing]

Oh goodness! I live in San Antonio but hail from Houston, which must be the second most Cajun/Creole-influenced "large" city, after New Orleans (even prior to Katrina). The cuisine is still available to some level over here in SA, but I miss a lot of stuff from over East. I love walking into every deli and having muffulettas on the menu, crawfish poboys, and a variety of red beans and rice on the shelves at every grocery store. I do miss it!

[Krista]

Red beans and rice are the best! Great idea to put them into a burrito.

[kate]

Oh man, I would love to win this- I've been trying to expand my cooking range and that looks like a good direction to go in!

[MyKitchenInHalfCups]

That's going to make somebody very lucky. Me I think I'll go get my box of Zartarin's from the pantry and make me some burrito's for dinner tonight . . . enough with all the bread I've been eating.

I don't have a lot of prepared box things but I do have several Zartarins! Loved Avery island.

[Milton Hicks]

My oh My! I'm always looking for new burrito & wrap recipes and never thought of Zatarain's Red Beans & Rice, but its a natural. And I have a box in my pantry. Thank you for a great idea/recipe.

[Vicki]

Root beer extract? I wonder what it's used in?!??

[Morgan]

Awesome! I love their creole seasoning.

[Michelle]

Until I save up enough vacation time, this would be the next best thing! And I'm unbearably intrigued by the Root Beer Extract. . .

[Callipygia]

Ditto, I had no idea that Zatarains did root beer extract, must look that up. So I guess we're on our own for the beads...

[Heather]

OH yum, I would be delighted to win this. I enjoy Zatarran's, but our grocery is sadly lacking in most of the things on your list!

[Kam A]

Everything looks so good!! I have visited Louisiana many times and the food is absolutely delicious!

[Christie]

That recipe looks really good! I don't have much experience cooking Louisiana style but should I win, I would definitely gain some experience! :-)

[Chris]

Thanks for the opportunity. I can't wait!

[Bev Thomas]

I have been there often in my dreams and would love to win a trip- with some good food stuff -again in my dreams.

[Davidsrecipes]

For those that keep asking about root beer extract and what it could be used for.
It is as you may guess an extract, with coloring, vanilla, and such.

You use it to make root beer :) Of course I am sure you can find many other uses for it as well, but really it is made to allow you to make your own easy to make root beer.

[Gudrun of Kitchen Gadget Girl]

happy to hear about the low sodium products, I am seeking those out more and more lately!

Cheers,

[Micaela]

I've been to NO twice, and love it. The food is the greatest. Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win.

[Laurie]

I'm also wondering about the root beer extract - how it's made and what it's used for. I love root beer floats, but hate it any other way. I'd love to figure out how to make my own root beer.

[Maris]

This is such a fun idea! My college roommate used to buy Zatarains jambalaya all the time and it always looked good but I've never tried it - it's definitely on my "to-try" list!

[Hélène]

I'm making burritos tonight and that would be a savor. What a great picture!

[caley]

I just bought a box of Zatarain's for the first time ever last week and I LOVED it! Mmm, I would love to win this!

[Tracy C]

I discovered your site this evening and am looking forward to trying some of your recipes. Thank you!

[Fuji Mama]

Oh wow, what a great giveaway! I love the Zatarain's products I've tried in the past. Yum!

[Michelle]

I love New Orleans food. This burrito sounds like a good, quick snack for my colleg kids. Think I'll try it.

[neil]

Oh lydia, you made my heart skip a beat with the mention of all those wonderful foods that I've only ever read about. I'm coming one day...

[Vera]

Burritos with red beans and cheese ummmm this does look like it would be a be wonderful.

[peabody]

Root beer extract? Who knew.

[Cortnee Islas]

I am so excited about this recipe! I have a box of red beans and rice in my pantry now. Looks like it's burrito night for Monday Night Football tomorrow. Thanks for the recipe!