Carolyns Shrimp Creole Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic in hot oil until soft, 5 to 7 minutes; add diced tomatoes and green chiles, tomato sauce, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and bay leaves. Reduce heat to medium low and continue cooking until vegetables are soft, about 30 minutes.
• Put flour into a large sealable plastic bag. Season flour with salt and pepper. Add shrimp to bag, close bag, and shake to coat shrimp in seasoned flour.
• Stir tomato juice into the mixture in the Dutch oven. Reduce heat to low and cook until the juice reduces slightly, about 5 minutes; add shrimp and cook until shrimp turn pink, about 5 minutes. Remove Dutch oven from heat and let the residual heat finish cooking the shrimp until they are bright pink and the meat is no longer translucent, about 5 minutes more.

Steps:

• Make the optional Creole seasoning: Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir together. The seasoning makes about 1/4 cup; store it in a closed container in a cool, dry place.
• Toss the raw shrimp with 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning and set aside.
• In a Dutch oven or large, heavy skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Sprinkle the flour on top and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until a roux the color of peanut butter forms, about 10 minutes.
• Add the onion, celery and bell pepper, increase the heat to medium and cook until softened, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
• Stir in 1/3 cup water, then the tomato sauce, hot sauce (if using), sugar, thyme, oregano, basil, bay leaves, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and the remaining 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally to make sure that the bottom doesn't burn. (If needed, add more water.)
• Once the stew has thickened, add the seasoned shrimp and simmer until opaque and cooked through, about 5 minutes, turning each piece halfway through the cooking time. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Remove from the heat and let stand for 10 minutes, uncovered. Sprinkle with scallions and parsley, and serve over steamed rice.

Steps:

• Pour oil in heavy pot. Add onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, all tomatoes, salt, sugar, and bay leaves. (that's everything but shrimp, broth, and flour) Bring to boil, then turn to medium heat. Cook for 1 hour; stirring occasionally at first. increase frequency of stirring as hour progresses and liquid reduces. After one hour the mixture goes from soupy to thick paste. careful not to scorch as thickens.
• Dissolve flour in chicken broth and add to tomato sauce mixture. Bring to boil. Add shrimp and bring back to boil; boil 10 minutes. Turn heat off, cover pot and let set for 20 minutes.
• Serve over rice and enjoy!
• note: I use tabasco as condiment since hot is such a personal thing.

Steps:

• For the Creole seasoning: In a small bowl, combine the thyme, paprika, black pepper, oregano, granulated garlic, granulated onion, salt, white pepper and cayenne, if using, Set aside.
• For the shrimp: Put the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter has melted, make a roux by whisking in the flour. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the roux turns deep brown and has a nutty aroma, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Stir the bell pepper, celery, onion and garlic into the roux and cook for about 3 minutes. Stir in all but 1 teaspoon of the Creole Seasoning and cook for about 1 minute before adding the stock, tomato and bay leaf. Stir well and make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom of the skillet. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced and the flavors blend, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle the shrimp with the remaining 1 teaspoon of Creole Seasoning. Stir the shrimp into the sauce and cook until they are pink and just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the hot sauce. Taste and add more salt if desired. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve over rice.