Being from Louisiana I have always loved Creole Cooking and the simplicity of ingredients that make this cuisine so delicious! All Creole cooking has a base of what is known as the "Trilogy of Flavor". This is a combination of Bell Pepper, Onion, and Celery. As I am sure you know these ingredients meld their flavors into a stunning burst of flavor when sauteed or cooked together!
Today I am sending you love in the form of a quick and simple "Shrimp Creole" recipe which will be served over rice as an entree for our menu. In Louisiana, seafood is a staple seeing how it is so plentiful. The folks of the Bayou prepare it so well people travel from around the world to enjoy this delicious cuisine! New Orleans, is the heart of Louisiana and home to some of the most renowned restaurants in the world! Great Chefs clammer to this city for a chance to learn the techniques of this down home cookery. As a professional caterer I have learned many short-cuts I use to make this cooking style more friendly for the home cooks of today. So today this recipe is offered as a simple solution to achieve outstanding result in your kitchen, also making it more affordable and quick to prepare. This is a true meal in minutes!
In Louisiana the rice of choice for cooks is "Mahatma", this rice is an extra long grain rice available in any market in the U.S. and around the world. They offer a huge selection of Rice and Rice products, and have proven to be among the top leaders in the industry of rice product production for almost 100 years. The quality of this product along with its fantastic flavor is prefect for accentuating the flavors of Creole Cookery! www.mahatmarice.com
For the "Shrimp Creole" dish I suggest using LARGE shrimp, that have been peeled and deveined. I reserve the shells and place in a cheese cloth bag tightly wrapped to use as a flavoring pouch in our recipe. However this is an option you may choose to skip if you buy pre-cleaned shrimp.
- Shrimp Creole Recipe: {serves 6-8}
- Clean and Devein 2 lbs {41-60 count or larger] shrimp and reserve till needed. You may also use cleaned and frozen shrimp but be sure they are raw frozen and tails removed!
- In a large skillet or Dutch Oven place 2Tbs of cooking oil and 4 strips of Bacon diced, cook until the bacon starts to brown nicely. To this add 1 medium sized Yellow Onion diced, 3 stalks of Celery diced, 3 cloves Garlic crushed, 3 tsp dried Thyme, 2 tsp dried Oregano, 1 Tbs Gumbo File www.tonychachere.com, and 1 each Yellow & Green Bell Pepper diced. Saute for 5 minutes over medium heat until onions begin to become slightly browned. Add 1 cup dry white wine and reduce until almost all liquid is absorbed. Add the " File" at the end of the cooking process just before adding Tomatoes.
- To this add 2 -28oz can Whole Peeled Tomatoes. I like the product by "Progresso" www.progressofoods.com Place the tomatoes in a large bowl and rough cut them up before adding to pan add the juice as well. Bring to a simmer and add the cleaned shrimp [and the bag of shells or 5 oz Clam Juice]. I like it a bit spicy so at this point I add 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes! Cover and cook 5 minutes, remove the bag of shells if used after cooking.
- Plate dishing the Shrimp mixture over the cooked Rice and serve with crusty French Bread or some Corn Bread with a Salad for a tasty and economic meal. This dish is beautiful and elegant enough to serve for any dinner party!
- Many recipes like this are very cost effective and simple to prepare when entertaining larger groups. I as an event planner often suggest these types of menu selections when catering for larger events. They tend to be satisfying, easy to transport and people always enjoy them!
My wine suggestion for this meal is a 2006 "Pinot Gris" from "Sagelands Winery" in Washington State. www.sagelandsvinyard.com . I suggest this wine for its beautiful fruit bouquet and rich flavor! It is a crisp white wine which pairs well with the rustic nature of this dish offering a brilliant POP of flavor while not over powering the delicate flavor of the shrimp. Try entertaing with this great recipe, and wine selection to become as stylish as an Old Plantation on the Mississippi River!
