LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL-FM) – For generations, Cajuns have been known for taking classic dishes and making them better…bolder flavors, more spices, and a whole lot more personality. So, it should come as no surprise that the tradition of frying turkeys started right here in South Louisiana.
The rest of America thought we were crazy, at least until they tasted it. Then they called us genius.
The Origins of Fried Turkey in Louisiana
Some reports trace the first fried turkeys back to Louisiana in the 1930s, long before the rest of the country had even considered dunking a bird in hot oil.
It wasn’t until the mid to late 1970s that the idea started spreading beyond Acadiana, as word got out about “those crazy Cajuns in South Louisiana” who were skipping the oven in favor of a deep fryer…