Mardi Gras Shrimp Creole (Printable)
Savory shrimp cooked in a spicy tomato sauce with Creole seasonings, served atop fluffy white rice.
# What You'll Need:
→ Seafood
01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 green bell pepper, chopped
04 - 2 celery stalks, chopped
05 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
07 - 1/4 cup tomato paste
08 - 2 green onions, sliced
09 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
→ Liquids
10 - 1 cup seafood or chicken broth
11 - 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
12 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
→ Spices & Seasonings
13 - 1 1/2 tsp Creole seasoning
14 - 1/2 tsp paprika
15 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
16 - 1 bay leaf
17 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
18 - Salt and black pepper to taste
→ Rice
19 - 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
20 - 3 cups water
21 - 1/2 tsp salt
→ Fats
22 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
23 - 1 tbsp olive oil
# How To Make It:
01 - Bring 3 cups water and 1/2 tsp salt to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in rice, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 15-18 minutes until tender. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
02 - Heat olive oil and butter over medium heat in a large skillet or Dutch oven. Add onion, bell pepper, and celery. Sauté for 6-7 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
04 - Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes with juices, bay leaf, thyme, paprika, Creole seasoning, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and broth. Stir well to combine and bring to a simmer.
05 - Reduce heat and let sauce simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and flavors have melded together.
06 - Add shrimp and lemon juice to the sauce. Stir well, cover, and cook for 3-4 minutes just until shrimp turn pink and opaque. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Discard bay leaf before serving.
07 - Spoon shrimp Creole over hot fluffy rice. Garnish generously with sliced green onions and fresh chopped parsley.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce develops incredible depth as it simmers and those spices bloom together
- It comes together faster than you think while still tasting like it cooked all day
- The combination of fresh shrimp over that fluffy rice is pure comfort food magic
02 -
- The sauce needs time to thicken properly so do not rush that simmer step
- Shrimp cook incredibly fast so that final step goes quicker than you expect
- Letting the rice stand covered makes all the difference for perfect texture
03 -
- Pat your shrimp completely dry before adding them to prevent the sauce from getting watery
- Let the tomato paste cook with the vegetables for a minute to caramelize slightly