Shrimp Creole

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 cups cooked rice

Instructions

1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add diced onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook for 5 minutes until softened.
3. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, and bay leaf.
5. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Add shrimp to the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes until pink and cooked through.
7. Remove bay leaf and adjust seasonings if needed.
8. Serve over cooked rice.

Notes

• Use a large skillet or Dutch oven to accommodate all ingredients comfortably.
• Devein shrimp before cooking for better texture and appearance.
• The dish can be prepared up to step 4 and refrigerated for up to 2 days before adding shrimp.
• For spicier Creole, increase cayenne pepper gradually to taste.
• Fresh shrimp is preferred, but frozen shrimp works well if thawed completely and patted dry.