Michelle’s Maque Choux
Welcome to my series of family recipes! The first recipe in my family recipe book comes from my mom's first cousin, Michelle Betcher.
Michelle and her family live in Texas, and her daughter, Sophia, is about my age. Over the years, Sophia has become more than just a cousin; she's become a close friend. As I flipped through the recipe book deciding where to begin, I texted Sophia to tell her I'd landed on her mom's Maque Choux. As it turned out, Michelle had made it herself just the night before.
It felt like the perfect place to start.
The timing couldn't have been better. My Aunt Theresa had just sent us home with fresh tomatoes and okra from her garden, so I already had some of the best ingredients waiting in my kitchen. Add fresh sweet corn and smoky sausage, and dinner practically made itself.
If you've never had Maque Choux before, it's a traditional Cajun dish that celebrates the best of summer produce. Sweet corn, peppers, tomatoes, and okra come together with smoked sausage to make something that's colorful, hearty, and full of flavor. Every bite tastes like sunshine.
Thank you, Michelle, for sharing this recipe with us. I hope it finds its way onto many more family tables.
Michelle Betcher's Maque Choux
Ingredients
1 lb smoked sausage, diced
½ cup chopped sweet onion
½ cup chopped red and yellow bell peppers
2 cloves garlic, minced
Kernels from 3–4 ears fresh corn
2 cups fresh okra, sliced
1 cup seeded, diced tomato
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Brown the diced sausage in a skillet for about 3 minutes.
Add the onion, peppers, and garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
Stir in the okra, corn, tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes.
Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Serve over rice.
Michelle's note:"Perfect summer dish!" and all fresh produce!
A few notes from my kitchen:
I served ours over white rice alongside my dad's baby back ribs while we watched the World Cup final, and it made for the perfect summer dinner.
Fresh garden tomatoes and okra made this recipe extra special, but don't let that stop you from making it if you're shopping at the grocery store. It's delicious either way.
This recipe comes together in about 20 minutes, making it an easy weeknight meal when summer produce is at its peak.
It takes quite a bit of chopping, so why not double the recipe to enjoy it a little longer for your labor?
It’s even better on day two!
