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creole shrimp stew

(1 rating)
StillWild avatar
Recipe by
Donna Graffagnino
@StillWild
Bayou Country, LA

Traditional New Orleans Creole Shrimp Stew is made with a brown roux and tomato sauce/paste, giving it a reddish orange appearance and a truly unique and delicious taste. Shrimp is the most traditional seafood used in this dish but crawfish, lump crabmeat or scallops can also be used.

(1 rating)
yield 4 serving(s)
prep time 20 Min
cook time 40 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For creole shrimp stew

  • 2 lb
    medium shrimp (61-70 ct), peeled and deveined
  • 2 Tbsp
    butter for roux
  • 3 Tbsp
    flour for roux
  • ***or*** 3 tablespoons store bought roux
  • 1 c
    onions, chopped
  • 1 bunch
    green onions, sliced thin
  • 3/4 c
    celery, chopped or 1 tsp powdered celery
  • 1/2
    red or green bell pepper chopped, or 2 tsp powdered bell pepper
  • 4 clove
    garlic, minced
  • 1 can
    6 oz tomato paste
  • 1 can
    15 oz tomato sauce
  • 1 Tbsp
    worcestershire sauce (lea & perrin's)
  • 3-4 c
    shrimp or chicken stock, as needed
  • 2 Tbsp
    dried parsley, chopped or 4 tbsp fresh
  • 1 Tbsp
    dried basil, chopped or 2 tbsp fresh
  • 1/2 tsp
    cayenne pepper
  • cooked white rice
  • fresh chopped basil for garnish

How To Make creole shrimp stew

  • 1
    Cook a pot of white rice, drain, rinse once with cold water to stop cooking process and set aside.
  • 2
    In large saucepan or medium stockpot, over medium heat, make a medium brown roux with 2 T. butter & flour, stirring constantly. (See Note below) ***If you can find Roux in a jar at the grocery store, use that to make this quick and easy.***
  • 3
    Once roux reaches color slightly darker than peanut butter, reduce heat to medium low and add onion, green onion, garlic, bell pepper, celery, parsley to the roux and stir very frequently until vegetables are tender. I like to keep mine in the roux mixture for 15-20 minutes. Vegetables will start to blend with roux to make a paste - that's when it's ready for the next step.
  • 4
    Add tomato paste and sauce; stir to blend in with seasoning mixture and reduce heat to lowest setting. Let flavors blend, stirring frequently for 10 minutes.
  • 5
    Begin adding stock as needed, stirring constantly to keep smooth. As it heats up and thickens add more stock to reach a medium soup consistency. Simmer for at least 20 minutes, but the longer you simmer it, the better it gets. Keep heat on low and stir frequently. If sauce starts to get too thick add a little stock or water. Add creole seasoning and taste - add salt, pepper & adjust seasonings as needed.
  • 6
    Add the raw shrimp and cook for 10 minutes until shrimp are completely cooked and start to curl up. If using pre-cooked crawfish or lump crabmeat add that about 5 minutes before you're ready to eat and heat through. Taste again and adjust seasonings because the shrimp will absorb some of the salt from the sauce. Serve in deep bowl over white rice and french bread. Garnish with chopped fresh basil if desired.
  • 7
    *NOTE: You can make a roux in a 4 cup glass measuring cup in the microwave. Combine butter and flour, and nuke on high at 30 second intervals, stirring after each. Cook until desired color. I like to stop my roux at the peanut butter color stage. *TIP: DON'T throw away those shrimp heads and peels. Freeze them in a little water and save until you have enough to make shrimp stock.
  • 8
    *OPTIONS: You can substitute shrimp with crawfish tails, lump crabmeat and/or scallops
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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