Louisiana Shrimp Creole

In this delicious shrimp Creole recipe, tomatoes and shrimp are cooked up with garlic and onions. This Gulf Coast tradition will have you dreaming of the bayou. This recipe can either be a main dish or a side dish. You can adjust the heat by adding more hot sauce. Serve over rice.

What Is Shrimp Creole?   

Shrimp Creole is a dish with Louisiana origins that features shrimp cooked in a tomato sauce that starts with the Cajun Holy Trinity (a mixture of diced onions, celery, and bell peppers cooked in butter). It’s traditionally served over rice.  

Shrimp Creole Ingredients  

These are the ingredients you’ll need to make this shrimp Creole recipe:

• Butter: Cook the chopped vegetables cooked in three tablespoons of butter. 

• Fresh vegetables: This recipe starts with the Cajun Holy Trinity (diced onions, celery, and bell peppers) cooked in butter. 

• Seasonings: The shrimp Creole is flavored with fresh garlic, Cajun seasoning, chile powder, and fresh thyme (for garnish). 

• Cornstarch: Thicken the sauce with two tablespoons of cornstarch. 

• Canned tomatoes: You’ll need one can of stewed tomatoes and one can of tomato sauce. 

• Sauces: From the sauce aisle, you’ll need Worcestershire sauce and hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco). 

• Shrimp: A pound of (peeled and deveined) medium shrimp will make about five servings of shrimp Creole. 

• Lemon juice: Add brightness with an (optional) tablespoon of lemon juice. 

  

How to Make Shrimp Creole  

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this shrimp Creole: 

1. Cook the vegetables in butter. 

2. Stir in the cornstarch, canned tomatoes, water, spices, and water. 

3. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.

4. Stir in the remaining ingredients and cook until the shrimp is bright pink and opaque.

Ingredients 

• 3 tablespoons butter

• ½ cup finely diced onion

• ½ cup chopped green bell pepper

• ½ cup chopped celery

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

• 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes

• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

• 1 cup water

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning

• 1 teaspoon chili powder

• hot pepper sauce, such as Tabasco, to taste

• 1 pound medium shrimp - peeled and deveined

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (Optional)

• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme (Optional)

Directions

1. Gather all ingredients.

2. Melt butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat; stir in onion, green pepper, celery, and garlic. Cook and stir until onion has softened and bell pepper is tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.

3. Mix in cornstarch. Stir in stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, Cajun seasoning, and hot pepper sauce. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.

4. Stir in shrimp, lemon juice, and fresh thyme; cook until shrimp are bright pink on the outside and the meat is opaque, about 5 minutes.

[Source: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/12776/louisiana-shrimp-creole-ii/]