5 Easy Disney Recipes for the Long Weekend

Memorial Day is coming up, which means it’s time for some patriotic celebrations as we remember the brave heroes who have served the United States.

Memorial Day in Disney

The long holiday weekend is a popular time to go to Walt Disney World, but not everyone can make it, especially with the current capacity limits and required reservations. So if you can’t be in the parks, we’re here to bring a little magic to your celebrations with some of our favorite Disney recipes!

Memorial Day usually signifies the beginning of summertime, and these recipes will bring the warm season right to your plate! Check out the Disney recipes you need to make for the holiday:

1. Avocado Citrus Salad – The Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

This is a great salad for your Memorial Day spread to balance out all the other rich food you’ll be eating! It’s light and refreshing while still being healthy for you.

The Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

The citrus dressing has orange juice for some tang and lemon juice for some zip. The salad also has orange and grapefruit segments to give it that fresh taste!

Ingredients:

4 Cups of your favorite Lettuce Greens
½ cup of frisee, hand torn
1 Cup of Diced Haas Avocado
1 Cup of Orange Segments
1 Cup of Grapefruit Segments
1 pinch of salt
1 pinch of pepper
¼ cup of Citrus Vinaigrette

Method of Preparation:

1. Mix all Vegetables and Fruit in a bowl.
2. Season with Salt and Pepper.
3. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently.

Citrus Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

2/3 cup Canola oil
1/3 cup White Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 cup Fresh squeezed Orange Juice
¼ teaspoon chopped shallots
¼ teaspoon chopped parsley
¼ teaspoon chopped chives
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 pinch salt
1 pinch black pepper

Method of Preparation:

1. Combine vinegar, shallots, chives, lemon juice, orange juice and
parsley and add to a blender or food processor. Blend for 3-4 minutes
until well incorporated.
2. Slowly add in oil while the blender is running
3. Continue to blend, an additional 3-4 minutes, adding salt and pepper.

2. Barbecue Pork Sandwich – Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

What’s a patriotic holiday without barbecue? These sandwiches are sure to please meat eaters and have an incredible smokey mango barbecue sauce to bring on those Summer vibes!

Kona Cafe

The recipe calls for red onion to add onto the pork when you’re building your sandwich, but you can add on any toppings you like.

Ingredients:
6 ounces Pulled pork
3 ounces Smokey mango BBQ
1 each Burger Buns
½ ounce Shaved red onion
6 ounce French fries

Smokey Mango Bar-B-Cue

Ingredients:

4 ounces Mango slices (in syrup)
16 ounces Ketchup
¼ ounce Liquid smoke flavoring
2 ounces Onion
1/8 ounce Cinnamon
¼ ounce Cumin
¼ ounce Garlic
8 ounces Water
2 ounces Sweet chili paste

Method of Preparation:
1. Sauté onion with cumin, garlic and cinnamon.
2. Add remaining ingredients and cook until boiling.
3. Puree well and serve hot.

With your barbecue sauce done, you’re ready to serve up these pulled pork sandwiches.

3. Dry Rubbed Smoked St. Louis Pork Ribs – Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort

Keeping on with the barbecue theme, these ribs are a cookout staple. The dry rub combined with the sauce bring a TON of flavor!

Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resort

The mop sauce uses ketchup and vinegar, as well as some cayenne pepper to bring some heat. The dry rub also has chili powder and cayenne pepper, so be aware that these can get a little spicy!

Ingredients:

3 cups smoked paprika
3 cups chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste
9 tbsp. garlic powder
9 tbsp. onion powder
9 tbsp. dry thyme
9 tbsp. dry oregano
6 tbsp. mustard seeds
3 tbsp. coriander, ground
3 tbsp. celery seeds
1 1/2 tbsp. cayenne pepper
6 3/4 cups brown sugar

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients together making sure there are no lumps of brown sugar in the mix.

Mop Sauce Ingredients:

1 cup lemon juice
1 gal. white wine vinegar
1 1/3 cups ketchup
2 cups paprika
1 cup salt
cayenne pepper to taste

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients together and whisk until they are incorporated. Mop ribs every half hour.

St. Louis Ribs:

6 (3 lb.) slabs St. Louis Ribs (pork spare ribs with sternum bone attached)

Preparation:

Trim excess fat, clean and dry. Season with the dry rib rub and let set overnight in the refrigerator uncovered. The minimum amount of time the ribs should sit would be 12 hours. The following day, remove the ribs from the refrigerator. Allow the rubbed ribs to rest at room temperature for 30-45 minutes.

Preheat your smoker to 225°F with your choice of hardwood (preferably apple wood and hickory). Once your smoker has come to temperature, place in the smoker and cook for 4 hours. After the 1st hour, begin mopping the ribs every 30 minutes until the 4 hour mark has been reached. After 4 hours, remove from the smoker. Place on a cookie sheet, wrap with plastic wrap and rest for 30-45 minutes. At this point, the ribs are complete and can be grilled or served as is with your favorite BBQ sauce.

4. Crab Cakes – Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom

Many people visit the beach for Memorial Day, and the beach means some great seafood! Even if you can’t make it to the ocean this holiday, you’ll feel like you’re there with these amazing crab cakes.

Fry these up for a great appetizer or eat them as your meal.

Ingredients:

(Yields 1 pound)

2 TB mayonnaise
2 TB mustard
2 TB sour cream
1 tsp. celery
1 tsp. onion
1/2 tsp. white wine Worcestershire sauce
1/4 oz. Tabasco
1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Mix all the ingredients above together and store in a cambro.

8 oz. crab meat, picked over for shells
1 oz. fresh bread crumbs

Take first mixture and combine with the bread crumbs, then gently add in the crab meat. Shape into 4 oz. portions and fry.

5. Chef Art Smith’s Hummingbird Cake – Homecomin’ in Disney Springs

You obviously have to finish off your celebrations with something sweet! This famous cake recipe from Chef Art Smith is so good, even Oprah loves it.

The cake has a tropical vibe to it with the banana and pineapple, but it also has southern roots thanks to the chopped pecans!

Cake Ingredients

Yield: 12 servings

3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups chopped ripe bananas
1 cup drained crushed pineapple
1 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs, beaten
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4 oz finely chopped pecans (optional)

Icing Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup butter at room temperature
1 lb confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method of Preparation

1. Position oven racks in center and bottom third of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Lightly butter two 9-inch round cake pans. Sprinkle evenly with flour and taop out excess.

2. Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into a bowl. In another bowl, stir or whisk the bananas, pineapple, oil, eggs and vanilla until combined. Do not use an electric mixer. Pout into the dry mixture and fold together with a large spatula until smooth. Do not beat. Fold in the pecans. Spread evenly into the pans.

3. Bake until the cake springs back when pressed in the center, 30-35 minutes. Transfer the cakes to wire racks to cool for 10 minutes. Invert the cakes onto the racks. Turn right side up and cool completely.

4. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until combined. On low speed, gradually beat in the sugar, then the vanilla to make a smooth icing.

5. Place one cake layer upside down on a serving platter. Spread with about 2/3 cup of the icing. Top with the second layer right side up. Spread the remaining icing over the top and sides of the cake.

The cake can be prepared up to one day ahead and stored uncovered in the refrigerator. Let stand at room temperature one hour before serving.

Note: This 2 layer cake recipe is specific to home baking and will appears different than the restaurant offering.

These recipes are the perfect way to feel patriotic this Memorial Day. Whether you’re somewhere on a sunny beach or grilling out in your backyard, these Disney recipes are sure to bring a little magic to your meal. We hope you get to try at least one of these delicious eats this holiday!