Vegetarian/vegan Cajun recipes?

I am wanting to attempt something totally different but stay within a vegetarian/vegan approach. I also want to attempt to impress some friends that are really into Cajun food.

Looking for something more than just rice dishes – possibly even a version of jambalaya.

While I have learned to make several Indian dishes – not that many people really eat that sort of thing -where I live except for one friend of mine in the area.

My personal quest is to figure out how to make – and have them taste GOOD – things that people already eat – but make them in a totally vegetarian/vegan approach in my cooking.

Cooking Italian, Irish – even some Czech dishes – haven’t been a problem for me to adapt and make in ways that others really enjoyed – some not even knowing that they were not eating meat based foods. Going to go up to my friends so that I can learn how to make better sushi – totally vegetarian of course – from a friends mother (Japanese woman over 80 years old).

My sticking point – has been cooking anything that is Cajun that really TASTES like something that is authentic Cajun that is vegetarian – talking main dish all the way down to desserts if I can.

Suggestions of tried and true recopies greatly appreciated.
So – the vegetarian ‘meat’ isn’t added till shortly before the end of the cooking time.

Is this enough time to give it the ‘taste’ of the ‘real thing’ – or is it better to let sit over night and re-heat it to give it more time to get the flavor from the ‘meat’?

Also any desert recipes?

Cajun Vegetarian Patties
2 cups cooked red beans
1 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, pressed
2 tsp salt
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp dry mustard
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. With a spoon or your hands, mix all the ingredients together until well blended, and form into burgers. Arrange the burgers on an oiled baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes on each side until browned.
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JAMBALAYA (Vegan)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tablespoon oil
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, minced
2 teaspoon filé powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
3 cup canned tomatoes, drained and chopped
8 ounce soysausage links, cut into small pieces
8 ounce seitan, cut into small pieces
1 cup cooked kidney beans
1 cup water
Cooked rice

Instructions:
In a large saucepan saute bell pepper, celery, garlic, and onion in 1/2 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Cover and cook over medium heat for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove cover, add 1 cup water, filé powder, salt, cayenne, thyme, Tabasco sauce, and tomatoes to the mixture. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until sauce thickens. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add soysausage and seitan, cook for 5 minutes or until lightly browned, then add to the tomato mixture. Adjust seasonings to taste and simmer for 5 more minutes. Serve over rice. NOte: Double the amount of kidney beans if you don\’t use seitan.

Serving size: 4-6

Prep time: 45 minutes

EDIT- I think either way is ok. If you add the meat, leave it overnight, and reheat it the next day, it will give it chance for the flavour to suffusetime instea. But you can add the meat before the end of the cooking d. It will still taste really good.