Shrimp Creole originated in New Orleans as part of Creole cuisine. It is a spicy seafood dish that consists of shrimp cooked in a thick sauce with diced tomatoes and the three vegetables known as the holy trinity of Creole cooking: onion, bell pepper, and celery. It is typically served over white rice. The term Creole comes from the Spanish word criollo and it denotes a person of mixed European and African descent born outside those countries. African American cooks adapted the French peasant’s thickener, roux, as a base for Creole sauces. After Spaniards brought peppers and tomatoes to Louisiana, the vegetables were commonly combined with a roux to make dishes like this shrimp Creole.
Recipe Servings: 6
Ingredients
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 2 cups onion, chopped
- 1 cup green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp garlic, chopped
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup shrimp stock
- 2½ lbs large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 Tbsp creole seasoning
- ½ cup green onions, chopped
- 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 4 cups long-grain white rice, cooked
Directions
- Place the butter in a large saucepan and set it over medium heat.
- Add the onion, bell pepper, and celery to the melted butter. Season the vegetables with salt and cayenne pepper.
- Sauté the vegetables about 6–8 minutes, until wilted.
- Stir in the bay leaves, tomatoes, and garlic. Bring the mixture to a boil before reducing the heat to a simmer and cooking for 15 minutes.
- Whisk the flour and water together in a small bowl and add it to the vegetables. Cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the shrimp stock, Worcestershire, and hot sauce. Continue to simmer for 10 minutes.
- Season the shrimp with Creole seasoning and add them to the pot. Cook the shrimp until they are pink and cooked through, about 6 minutes.
- Stir in the green onions and parsley.
- Serve hot over white rice.
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