Maque Choux: the delicious Cajun side dish recipe 

Maque choux is a mouthwatering Cajun side dish recipe that's spicy, sweet, and creamy. It is a perfect dish to serve any time of year, although it's especially delicious in summer when corn is in season or around Mardi Gras.

Maque choux is made from a tantalizing mixture. Salty, crispy browned bacon, sweet, tender corn, onions, bell peppers, and chilis are cooked in heavy cream and seasoned with Cajun spices.

It's usually enjoyed with hot sauce and served as a side dish with Cajun chicken, dirty rice, jambalaya, boudin sausage, and gumbo. If you're a fan of corn and enjoy a spicy kick in your food, maque choux is one side you need to make ASAP.

What is Maque Choux?

Maque choux (pronounced “mock shoe”) is a delicious Cajun recipe that's similar to succotash but is made without lima beans and usually features cream rather than broth.

The dish is the result of different culinary influences including Native American and Cajun French. In French, maque choux means “mock cabbage.”

Although it's often served as a side dish, you can add other ingredients like shrimp, crawfish, sausage, or chicken to make maque choux into a delicious, hearty main dish.

Maque Choux Ingredients

Authentic maque choux is made from a savory, spicy medley of sweet corn, crispy fried bacon pieces, onions, bell pepper, and jalapeños. All the ingredients are simmered in either chicken broth or heavy cream.

How to Make Maque Choux

Easy to make and totally delicious, you can whip up a side of maque choux in under half an hour. Start by frying the bacon until it's nice and crispy. Next, add corn, onion, peppers, and Cajun seasoning to the skillet. Let the veggies cook for several minutes until they soften, stirring as they cook.

Finally, add in the heavy cream. Let it maque choux cook for a minute or two until the cream is heated through, then serve.

What to Serve with Maque Choux

Serve your maque choux with your favorite hot sauce. It's a great side dish to enjoy with chicken, fish, prawns, beans, or rice dishes, especially Cajun, Creole, or other Southern recipes.

Tips for Making the Best Maque Choux

For a more authentic version of maque choux that also happens to be dairy-free, use chicken broth instead of heavy cream.

Make your maque choux even heartier by adding sausage or shrimp to it. Okra is a delicious addition as well. You can also add some minced garlic for extra flavor.

Use white or yellow corn to make maque choux or a blend of both.

If you love spice, swap out jalapeños for a spicier chili such as habanero or bird's eye chili.

How to Store Maque Choux

Store leftover maque choux in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Instructions

In a large skillet, add the bacon.

Sauté the bacon over medium-high heat, about 6 to 8 minutes.

Mix in the corn, onion, peppers.

Add the Cajun seasoning. Stir well to combine, then cook for 10 minutes, until the vegetables soften.

Pour in the heavy cream.

Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve and enjoy!

Notes

For a less spicy maque choux, remove the seeds from your jalapeño.