Celebrating Mardi Gras with #SundaySupper

gril·lade :
/ɡriˈläd,ɡrēˈyäd/ noun
 plural noun: grillades
 a kind of meat stew usually made with beef steak, typical of French regional and Cajun cooking.
source: Google Search

Tender Spicy Morsels of Beef Tenderloin in Gravy

 served over Cheese filled Grits

 and topped with a Bacon and Tomato Relish!!

Can you think of a better way to celebrate Fat Tuesday?  I certainly can't.  Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is celebrated on February 28th this month.  March 1st is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of our Lenten Season so we are getting ready for our last hurrah before the fasting and alms giving commences.  

Our host, Marion of Life Tastes Good, wisely asked us all to bring our favorite Mardi Gras recipe to the table this week.  This way all of our readers have a couple of days to plan their menu for their Mardi Gras celebration on Tuesday.

Keeping in mind that many of my readers will be working on Tuesday, I wanted to share a dish that is quick, easy and filled with the Cajun flavors you would find if you were lucky enough to be celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  When you read this, I will be in Dominica, celebrating Carnival.  I'm so excited.

This entire meal is ready in less than an hour.  Be forewarned that, in true Cajun fashion, this dish is very spicy.  I cut way down on the amount of Cayenne pepper and it still had a great bite.  A little too much bite for Frank who is very spice sensitive so if this is the case with your family you may want to reduce the Cayenne pepper even more.

Once you have seared the tenderloin and are letting the gravy thicken and reduce it is time to make your cheesy grits.  I used quick cooking grits which take only 5 minutes.  Stir in the cheese and butter and set aside while you rewarm the steak in the gravy and throw together the Bacon and Tomato Relish.

You are now ready to serve.  Plate the grits on one side of a shallow plate or bowl.  Ladle the stew onto the other side and top with a healthy dose of the tomato and bacon relish.

This elegant and delicious dinner is on the table within an hour making it perfect for a weeknight dinner but beautiful and tasty enough to serve to guests.  I adapted this recipe from one found in my latest issue of Cuisine at Home.  I made my own cajun seasoning adapting this recipe from Food.com. 

Tenderloin Grillades with Cheesy Grits and Tomato/Bacon Relish

adapted from Cuisine at Home, Issue #122

Stew:

1 lb beef tenderloin, slice into strips

3 T. flour

1 t. white pepper

1 t. garlic powder

1 t. onion powder

1/2 t. cayenne pepper ( more or less to taste)

1 t. paprika

4 thick slices of bacon, diced

1 yellow pepper, cut into chunks

1 med. red onion, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 T. tomato paste

2 c. beef broth

1 t. worcestershire sauce

Grits:

3/4 c. half and half 

1 1/4 c. water

dash of cayenne pepper

1 cup grits

1 c. colby jack cheese, shredded

2 T. butter

Relish:

4 slices diced bacon, cooked 

1 large tomato, seeded and diced

1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley

1 t. red wine vinegar

Combine the flour, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne and paprika in a large plastic bag. Add the beef strips and shake to coat.

Cook bacon in large skillet over med heat until crisp.  Set aside to drain on a paper towel lined plate.

Add olive oil to the bacon grease in the skillet to equal 2 tablespoons.  Heat over med high heat.  Sear the seasoned tenderloin, in two batches, for a minute on each side, reserving any seasoned flour left in the bag.  Set aside on a plate.

To the same skillet, still over med high heat, add 1 more tablespoon of olive oil.  Add the onion and peppers to the skillet and cook for 5 or 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.  Add garlic, tomato paste, and remaining seasoned flour.  Cook and stir for a minute or two until fragrant.  Stir in the broth and worcestershire sauce.  Bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits sticking to the bottom of the skillet.  Let cook until thickened and reduced, 5 minutes or so.

While gravy is thickening, make the grits by bringing the cream, water and cayenne to a soft boil over med high heat in a large saucepan.  Gradually stir in the grits, reduce heat and cook, stirring often until thickened, about 5 minutes.  Stir in the cheese and butter, set aside.

Turn the heat off under the gravy but leave on burner.  Add the reserved tenderloin and allow to gently rewarm. 

Toss together the reserved bacon, tomatoes, parsley and red wine vinegar.

Place a quarter of the grits on one side of a shallow plate or bowl.  Ladle a fourth of the stew along side the grits and top with 1/4 of the Tomato/Bacon relish.  Print Recipe

More Recipes Celebrating Mardi Gras

Appetizers

• Andouille and Crawfish Pimento Cheese Fries by Soulfully Made
• Hot Louisiana Shrimp Dip by Sprinkles and Sprouts
• Mardi Gras Muffaletta Dip by For the Love of Food
• Piquant Shrimp Balls by Food Lust People Love
• Trinidadian doubles by Caroline’s Cooking

Main Dishes

• Andouille and Chicken Gumbo by Delaware Girl Eats
• Bananas Foster French Toast by A Mind “Full” Mom
• Bananas Foster Baked Oatmeal by Cooking With Carlee
• Blackened Shrimp Pasta by Seduction in the Kitchen
• Cajun Courtbouillon by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Cajun Pasta Carnivale by Palatable Pastime
• Chicken and Shrimp Gumbo by The Freshman Cook
• Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta by Wholistic Woman
• Creole Beef and Rice Bowls by Renee’s Kitchen Adventures
• Easy Shrimp and Grits Recipe by Life Tastes Good
• Gluten Free Gumbo by Cricket’s Confections
• Gumbo Z’herbes by Monica’s Table
• Hawaiian Jambalaya by Shockingly Delicious
• Overnight Muffuletta Sandwich by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Slow Cooker Jambalaya by The Crumby Cupcake
• Spicy Jambalaya Flatbread by My Life Cookbook
• Tenderloin Grillades with Cheesy Grits by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Vegetarian Muffaletta Sandwich by Hardly A Goddess

Sides

• Creole Potato Salad by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
• Easy Buttermilk Cornbread by The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Muffaletta Wedge Salad by Shaken Together
• New Orleans Brandy Milk Punch by Tara’s Multicultural Table
• Not So Dirty Rice by Simple and Savory
• Red Beans and Rice by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

Desserts

• Bananas Foster by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Basic Bread Pudding by What Smells So Good?
• Bourbon Vanilla Cherries Jubilee by Pies and Plots
• Mardi Gras Cheese Ball by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Easy Mini King Cake Bites by Family Around The Table
• New Orleans Mardi Gras Beignets by Big Bear’s Wife
• Pecan Praline Cookies by Sunday Supper Movement
• Traditional Mardi Gras King Cake by Curious Cuisiniere
• White Chocolate-Raspberry Bread Pudding by Gourmet Everyday

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