Description
Shrimp Creole is a classic Southern dish that combines tender shrimp with a rich, spiced tomato-based sauce. The dish offers bold flavors with a perfect balance of savory, spicy, and tangy notes. It’s an easy-to-make recipe that brings a taste of New Orleans to your kitchen, ideal for a comforting family dinner or a special gathering.
Ingredients
- Shrimp: Fresh or frozen, peeled and deveined
- Olive Oil: For sautéing the vegetables
- Onion: Provides a savory base
- Bell Peppers: Adds sweetness and crunch
- Celery: Part of the ‘holy trinity’ of Southern cooking
- Garlic: Adds a rich aromatic flavor
- Diced Tomatoes: The base for the Creole sauce
- Tomato Paste: Thickens the sauce and enhances tomato flavor
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds umami depth to the dish
- Hot Sauce: For heat and spice
- Cajun Seasoning: Gives the dish its characteristic flavor
- Salt and Pepper: For seasoning
- Green Onions: For garnish and freshness
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions, bell peppers, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic, Cajun seasoning, and hot sauce. Cook for 1 minute to bloom the spices.
- Stir in diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Season with Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, and let the sauce simmer for another 10-15 minutes.
- Add shrimp to the sauce, cooking for 3-5 minutes until they are pink and opaque.
- Garnish with fresh green onions and serve hot over rice.
Notes
- Avoid overcooking the shrimp, as they can become rubbery.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, add extra hot sauce or cayenne pepper.
- This dish can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Serve with steamed rice, cornbread, or sautéed greens for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 175mg