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Does adding Tomato to a Cajun dish make it Creole?

Posted on 6/21/26 at 6:59 pm
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora
Member since Sep 2012
76047 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 6:59 pm
Is that the basic rule of thumb?

Other than Courtbouillon/ Sauce Piqaunt.... that has tomato but still considered Cajun, correct?
Posted by BigDropper
Member since Jul 2009
8822 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 7:15 pm to
No
Posted by ConnectTheDots
Member since May 2026
120 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 7:34 pm to
Yes, gumbo
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
50630 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 8:29 pm to
a “creole” when describing a dish generally means tomato/onion/celery/peppers. “Creole” when describing a cuisine just means “a lot of different things mixed together”.
Posted by Got Blaze
Youngsville
Member since Dec 2013
10166 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 8:44 pm to
You need to learn the demographics and history between each culture. Creole and Cajun are totally different including where each originated from. The only thing they have in common is both groups of people were exiled from their native countries and ended up residing in South Louisiana.

Cajun or “Acadiennes” are originally from France. Tomatoes are traditionally uncommon in classic Cajun recipes : brown jambalaya, gumbo, etoufee, corn macque choux, fricasse, etc… Onions , celery, bell peppers and garlic are cooked down in the roux or brown gravy to smother the meat.

The use of tomatoes in Creole cuisine is often traced partly to the strong Spanish influence in New Orleans. Dishes such as: shrimp creole, red jambalaya (New Orleans style), sauce piquante, etc … are not Cajun. Spices from the Caribbean and Africa were used to flavor most creole dishes.
Posted by tarzana
TX Hwy 6-- the Brazos River Valley
Member since Sep 2015
32703 posts
Posted on 6/21/26 at 10:41 pm to
Tomato is essential for shrimp creole; prolly other Creole dishes as well. Other necessary items for Creole are sliced garlic, onions, capsicums (both hot and mild) and the all-important R-O-U-X.
Posted by Napoleon
Kenna
Member since Dec 2007
74863 posts
Posted on 6/22/26 at 1:02 am to
Creole gumbo usually has tomatoes and okra and seafood.
Cajun gumbo never had tomatoes rarely okra and is often chicken and sausage.
Posted by Potchafa
Avoyelles
Member since Jul 2016
4612 posts
Posted on 6/22/26 at 6:58 am to
Let me tell ya'll something! I'm quick to add a tomato, cooked down with the trinity, to just about all rice and gravies. I don't do it in gumbo out of principal.
Posted by Midtiger farm
Member since Nov 2014
6370 posts
Posted on 6/22/26 at 8:38 am to
quote:

Creole and Cajun are totally different including where each originated
quote:


Cajun or “Acadiennes” are originally from France.


Lots of people in LA that are called Cajun are actually "Creoles" from France by definition
Posted by oldcharlie8
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2012
7889 posts
Posted on 6/23/26 at 7:32 am to
not when it comes to a sauce piquante
Posted by bdevill
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Mar 2008
12271 posts
Posted on 6/23/26 at 7:55 am to
quote:

Lots of people in LA that are called Cajun are actually "Creoles" from France by definition


That's not true. The only thing Cajuns and Creoles have in common is that they're of French descent, and Catholics.
This post was edited on 6/25/26 at 4:43 pm
Posted by Midtiger farm
Member since Nov 2014
6370 posts
Posted on 6/23/26 at 1:23 pm to
quote:

That's not true.


What's not true? They there are many people in LA who's ancestors came straight from France which would make them "Creole" by the original definition but they are called Cajun now because they have a French sounding last name and because "Cajun" has become an all encompassing term outside of New Orleans?
ok buddy tell me how thats wrong
Posted by MobileJosh
On the go
Member since May 2018
1453 posts
Posted on 6/23/26 at 1:48 pm to
This is like two midgets fighting over who's tallest. Literally and figuratively
Posted by chryso
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2008
13939 posts
Posted on 6/23/26 at 2:57 pm to
Officially, no. But I tend to think of it that way.
Posted by TulaneLSU
Member since Aug 2003
Member since Dec 2007
13663 posts
Posted on 6/23/26 at 5:44 pm to
Friend,

Are you asking what is the essence of a Creole tomato? As in if you add any tomato to a Cajun, or presumably Creole, dish does that tomato become a Creole tomato? The answer, if that is your question, is no.

Yours,
TulaneLSU
Posted by TBoy@LSU
Member since Sep 2012
6310 posts
Posted on 6/24/26 at 11:51 am to
Adding tomato to a gumbo makes it soup. There are worse things you could add to a gumbo though ... like corn.

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