Les Carlos Shrimp & Crawfish Dip

This is another holiday dish that I will definitely be putting into the year-round rotation.

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I first had this dip at a Christmas party 8 years ago, and I searched for the recipe for 5 years before someone pointed out to me that it had been right under my nose – namely in Heart & Soul – the whole time.

While this does take a little while to prep and cook, it is totally worth your time. And not just because it is delicious, but also because each step of the cooking process leaves the house smelling better than the last. Butter, creole seasoning, fresh herbs and seafood? I’m on board.

Two words of caution: Make sure to thaw and rinse your seafood well to get rid of any unnecessary fishiness, and make sure you use 2 teaspoons of creole seasoning and not 2 tablespoons at each of the saute steps. Not that anyone has ever ruined 2 pounds of perfectly good seafood by doing that, but I’d like to prevent it if at all possible…

1 lb crawfish tails
1 lb shrimp, raw and roughly chopped
1.5 sticks of butter (.75 cups)
6 tsp creole seasoning
1 cup onion, finely chopped
1 cup green bell pepper, finely chopped
1 cup celery, finely chopped
1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 tbsp fresh basil (3 dried)
3 tbsp fresh thyme (1.5 dried)
3 tbsp tomato paste
1/4 cup flour
1 bunch green onions, finely chopped
hot sauce

1. Melt half a stick of butter in a large skillet. Add 2 tsp creole seasoning. Add crawfish and saute for 5 minutes. Pour crawfish and butter into a bowl and set aside.
2. Melt half a stick of butter in a the skillet, add 2 tsp creole seasoning, and saute shrimp in butter for 3 minutes. Add shrimp to bowl with crawfish.
3. Melt the rest of the butter in the skillet with 2 tsp creole seasoning. Add onion, green and red peppers, celery, and garlic and saute for 5 minutes or until veggies are tender.
4. Add fresh herbs, tomato paste and flour to veggie mixture in the skillet and stir constantly for 5 minutes.
5. Process half of crawfish/shrimp mixture in blender (do not puree).
6. Add crawfish/shrimp mixture (both processed and not-processed halves) to skillet and mix thoroughly.
7. Stir in green onions and add hot sauce to taste.
8. Serve with Thin Garlic Crostinis and get out of the way.

Tom Yum Soup & Shrimp Stock

I was cleaning up the ole WordPress today and ran across this dusty draft in my backlog. How it is possible to forget such a yummy recipe – especially one that involves not one but two types of soup – is beyond me. Let’s remedy that, shall we?

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This is 2-for-1 in that it is The Chef’s recipe for both Shrimp Stock and Tom Yum Soup. Usually, if you don’t have the time or patience to make your stock, you can buy it; but the ingredient list on this sucker makes me think you should go traditional or go home.

And I’d wager that the flavor will be well worth it. Tom Yum is spicy, brothy Asian goodness, and the longer it simmers and permeates your house, the better it will be when you finally slurp it down.

Shrimp Stock:
1 tablespoon of olive oil
shells from 1 1/2 pounds of shrimp (shrimp reserved)
1 red bell pepper, chopped
stems of 1 lb shiitake shrooms
2 lemongrass stalks, rough chopped
3 inch piece of ginger, rough chopped
2 celery stalks, rough chopped
1 onion, rough chopped
2 tsp of tomato paste
1/2 cup rice wine (mirin)
enough water to cover

1. Add oil to stock pot. Add shrimp shells and cook them until pink.
2. Add the rice wine.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients and enough water to cover.  Simmer for about 45 minutes. Strain.

Tom Yum Soup:
1 tbsp peanut oil
1.5 lbs shrimp
2 tsp sesame oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 inch piece of ginger, chopped*
2 lemongrass stalks, chopped*
3 Thai chilies*
1/2 red onion, sliced thin
2 celery stalks, cut on the diagonal into 1-inch slices
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp Thai fish sauce
1 lb mushrooms, sliced
8 cups shrimp stock
2 cups cilantro, no stems
1 lime, cut into quarters for garnish
cilantro for garnish

1. Heat large pot over medium heat. Add peanut oil. Then add garlic, chiles, ginger, lemongrass, onions, celery, sesame oil, and chili powder.  Saute, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens, 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Add shrimp, mushrooms, and stock. Cook for about 15 minutes.
3. Add fish sauce and cilantro.
4. *Remove lemongrass, ginger, and Thai chilies.
5. Serve with lime wedges and cilantro sprigs. Add soy sauce if you need salt.

The Chef warns that you will definitely have leftover stock, so freeze it for next time, and your Tom will be Yum in no time.

Sewell’s Shrimp Creole

This recipe comes from JR’s friend Sewell, a good ‘ole Georgia boy who knows the importance of Cajun seasoning in anything that bears the “Creole” name. I normally wouldn’t post something from a Georgia fan two days before their (likely not epic but here’s-to-hoping good) battle with the Vols, but this looks too darn good to ignore.

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The main thing to remember with this recipe is that juice is your friend. Don’t drain anything here. All of that sauce the ‘maters are packed in provides flavor and richness, so feel free to add more as you go if your Creole looks a little thirsty.

2-3 links andouille sausage, sliced
1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
1 small sweet onion, chopped
4 stalks of celery, chopped
1 ear of corn, cut off the cob (or 1/2 cup frozen)
4-8 cloves of garlic, minced
2-3 large cans diced tomatoes (Italian) + juice
1-2 cans of rotel + juice
1 cup rice, cooked according to package directions
Cajun seasoning
olive oil or butter
hot sauce

1. Brown sausage in large dutch oven with olive oil. Remove and reserve.
2. Saute bell pepper, onion, celery, and garlic in same pan until soft (about 5-10 minutes) with the Cajun seasoning.
3. Add sausage, corn, tomatoes, and rotel.
4. Let simmer for 15-20 minutes.
5. Add shrimp and cook for three minutes.
6. Serve over rice with hot sauce.

Grilled Shrimp

I rarely order shrimp at restaurants for some reason, but when it comes to cooking at home they are a go to ingredient for me.  Living in NOLA, we have access to the best gulf shrimp.  Also, since Chef John and I plan on cooking every recipe in Besh’s My New Orleans, there are lots of shrimp dinners ahead of us, so expect more shrimp recipes to be posted!  Below is one we used on these amazing huge fresh gulf shrimps that our friend gave us.  I wish I had a picture of them raw because they were beauties.  This is a very basic recipe so really feel free to change it up with whatever spices and herbs you like.  I think this recipe was adapted from an Emeril recipe, but honestly I cannot remember. We served this with a frisse salad and roasted veggies. -ts

1/2 pounds large unpeeled shrimp
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from 3 lemons)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grill
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
Coarse salt and ground pepper

1. Devein shrimp, leaving shells on.
2. In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Reserve 6 tablespoons lemon mixture for serving. Place shrimp and remaining lemon mixture in a resealable plastic bag; seal bag and shake to coat shrimp. Refrigerate 1 hour.
3. Heat grill high. Remove shrimp from marinade, wiping off excess. Grill until opaque throughout, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve shrimp drizzled with reserved lemon mixture.

Besh (Best) Jambalaya

We cooked this on one of our last dinner parties at our apartment in NYC.  It was amazing.  We made a huge pot of it, and I am pretty sure there were no leftovers.  People were stuffing their face and going for third helpings.  Chef John and I love “My New Orleans” cookbook.  Other then the obvious fact that his recipe’s are amazing, I also love this cookbook because John Besh describes the cooking process and why it is important to do certain things while you are cooking.   -ts

Chef John says: If you don’t have John Besh’s book, “My New Orleans,” than you need to have your head examined, go buy it. In my opinion, he’s easily one of the most talented and innovative chefs out there and best of all he likes to use pork… a lot. I’m trying to eat my way through his book at the moment but wanted to share with you his Jambalaya recipe. Prior to this, I’ve never tried to make it on my own and I was really surprised by how easy it was.  This is one of my favorite comfort foods and provides a great base for a long night out.

2 pounds bacon, diced
3 pounds andouille sausage, diced
1/2 cup lard (OPTIONAL- we did not use bc there is enough pork fat)
2 pounds fresh pork sausage, removed from casings
8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, roughly cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
6 large onions, diced
4 bell peppers, seeded and diced
10 stalks celery, diced
12 cloves garlic, minced
9 cups converted Louisiana white rice
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 dried bay leaves
3 tablespoons pimention de la Vera or smoked paprika
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon celery salt
6 cups canned crushed tomatoes
6 cups chicken stock
5 pounds Louisiana white shrimp or other wild American shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 bunches green onions, chopped

1. First, you’ll need to heat a very large pot 3-5 gallons) over high heat until it is hot, then reduce the heat to moderate.  This will allow the heat to be uniform all over, preventing those little hot spots that are likely to burn.
2. Render the bacon with the sausages and the lard in the hot pot, stirring slowly with a long wooden spoon or a spade.  While the pork is rendering, go ahead and season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.  Add the chicken to the pot, stirring, and cook until the chicken becomes golden brown, about 5 minutes.
3. After the chicken as browned, add the onions to the pot and all them to caramelize, about 15 minutes.  Add the bell peppers, celery, and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes.  Continue stirring from time to time so that everything in the pot cooks evenly.
4. Next add the rice, thyme, bay leaves, pimention, cayenne, 2 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoons black pepper, and the celery salt to the pot and cook, stirring often for 3 minutes.
5. Increase the heat to high and add the tomatoes and chicken stock to the pot,  Bring the stock to a boil.  Reduce the heat do medium low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
6. While the rice is cooking in the covered pot, season the shrimp with salt and pepper and save them, along with the green onions, to be added at the last minutes.
7. After the rice as simmered for 15 minutes, go ahead and remove the lid from the pot and fold int he shrimp and green onions.  Turn off the heat and let everything continue to to cook in the hot covered pot for an additional 10 minutes.  Remove the lid, fluff the jambalaya and serve.

Thai Lemon Chili Shrimp- Goong Maa Now

Last night’s dinner…Asian SCRIMPS!  This may have been the easiest quickest recipe ever; start to finish including marinating time was about 20 minutes.  Next time I think I will make my own sweet chili sauce, but this time around I just used the pre-made stuff.  If you can’t find kaffir lime leaves lime zest is ok. I served this with summer rolls and lemon herb quinoa on the side to be healthy.

I think serving with a fresh baguette to soak up the sauce would be ideal.  Back to the shrimp tails debate from this post, I am all about keeping the tails.  Good looking food always tastes better.  Oh and chef Katie, get on this recipe because you will love. -ts

1 pound shrimp shelled and deveined
1/3 cup sweet chili sauce
1 lemon- juice and zest
3 kaffir lime leaves sliced, substitute 1 teaspoon grated lime zest
1 teaspoon chili sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
3 cloves minced garlic
1 teaspoon brown sugar
¼- 1/3 cup coconut milk
Siracha (optional as this is spicy on its own)
1/4 cup cilantro chopped for garnish

1. Marinate the shrimp in the sweet chili sauce, lemon juice, lemon zest, kaffir lime leaves, chili sauce, fish sauce, garlic and sugar for 10 or more minutes.
2. Heat a pan.
3. Add the shrimp, the marinade, siracha (if using) and the coconut milk and simmer (not boil) until the shrimp are cooked, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and mix in the cilantro.

Vietnamese Summer Rolls

I make these rolls pretty much every time I make Vietnamese, which is a lot.  A well-known fact about me is that love Asian food, pretty much all Asian with Chinese takeout style as the exception.  When it is nice out, I like to head to Chinatown to discover new and exciting produce/dried seafood stuff/weird sauces pretty much Zimmern type things.  I love cooking with fish sauce and recently have been researching on all the different kinds out there.  If you are using it in a recipe, it really changes the flavors so it is important to stick to one kind that you like.  I prefer Vietnamese fish sauce over Thai.  Since there are tons of brands just look for ones that have “nhi” or “thuong hang” in the title.  Also, make sure it is a light amber color instead of dark.

Back to the recipe, these shrimp summer rolls are simple, delicious, healthy, and pretty.  You can add or take out whatever ingredients you like (sometimes I use shrimp and pork), but don’t overstuff your rolls!  They are finger foods and should not be drooping.  You should be able to find most ingredients at your grocery store, but may need to trek to the ethnic pet store for the rice paper.  I serve these with Nuoc cham sauce which I also use as a dressing when making vermicelli dishes.  You could also use a peanut sauce.  – ts
My tip: when rolling these make sure you have the imprinted side of rice paper roll facing up

Makes 6 rolls

1 ounce dried vermicelli noodles, cooked according to package directions
6 sheets (8 1/2-inch) rice paper- keep more on hand in case of tears
6 cooked prawns (shrimp), peeled and sliced in half lengthwise
Fresh mint and/or basil
Shredded Boston or Butter lettuce
1 bunch fresh chives

Dipping Fish Sauce:
3 tablespoons fish sauce
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar or white vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup water
2 cloves garlic minced or crushed
1 red chile, minced or crushed
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1. Cook noodles in boiling water per package instructions, about 3 minutes, then rinse under cool water.
2. Fill bowl with warm water. Dip rice paper in warm water for about 3-4 seconds, until rice paper becomes moistened with water.
3. After dipping your rice paper in warm water, lay wrapper onto your dry work surface. Allow rice paper to soak up water and become soft and pliable (about 30 seconds to 1 minute) before you start to roll.
4. Layer with a small amount of shrimp, noodles herbs, and lettuce.  Layer your filling ingredients on the edge of the wrapper closest to you, shrimp first.  I like to drizzle a little hoison sauce and siracha over the fillings.  To form the roll, first fold the sides into the center over the filling, then fold and roll, just before you complete the roll add 2 pieces of garlic chives so that they stick out at one end.
5. For dipping sauce just combine all ingredients together in a small bowl.

Rosemary Shrimp

Well everyone, it’s that time of year again – The Gras. No, not the shirtless-Stephen-Graw variety, but the Mardi Gras. In its honor, the Nums have decided to hit you with some quintessentially Nawlins seafood recipes. This is one that Dot has pulled out many times, and it’s so buttery and satisfying that we know you won’t be disappointed. (Come to think of it, someone may have said that about The Shirtless Graw before, but that’s neither here nor there…)

This recipe originally hails from the much-regaled Heart & Soul Junior League cookbook under the name “Baked Shrimp Douglas,” but that frankly sounds too proper for a day that’s characterized by beads and boobs, so we took it down to plain ole English. Laissez le bon temps roulez! (I know that’s French and therefore a bizarre choice to follow-up a sentence about “plain ole English,” but I may have had too many Hurricanes, so don’t you judge me.)

2 lbs fresh medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp celery salt
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
1 clove garlic, minced

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Combine all ingredients and place in 13x9x2 baking dish.
3. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until shrimp turn pink.
4. Serve in ramekins with Caesar salad and crusty French bread for dipping. This sauce is fatty-goodness gold, so you’ll want to be able to sop up every bite.

Prosciutto, Peppers & Shrimp Pasta

I usually always go for angel hair when I make pasta, but this really is better with the bowtie. It’s the perfect mix of sweet, spicy and seafood. Plus bowtie pasta is just adorable, so it’s got that going for it too.

1 teaspoon of olive oil
2 ounces of thinly sliced proscuitto
1 pound peeled and deveined 21-25 count shrimp
2 red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, and chopped
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
handful of chopped green onions
1 teaspoon chopped parsley
1/4 cup of feta cheese
2 tablespoons of butter
4 ounces shrimp stock
2 ounces of vodka
salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper to taste
1 package of bowtie pasta, cooked

1. In a medium saute pan heat olive oil. Add prosciutto and cook until crisp. Once crisp, remove from pan.
2. Season shrimp with salt and pepper and cook briefly (until about halfway done).
3. Add vodka to pan, stand back and set vodka aflame to deglaze pan.
4. After flames dies down, add chopped bell peppers, garlic, green onions, parsley and feta cheese. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
5. Add shrimp stock, bring to a simmer and reduce for 3-4 minutes. Add salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper.  Stir in butter.
6. Add bowtie pasta and cook until just until pasta is heated through. Plate and top with crisp prosciutto.

Barrett’s Shrimp & Grits

This is a recipe The Chef has refined at several of the restaurants he’s worked in. He says it’s “very simple stuff.” I’ve only stuffed my face with this but have never made it myself, so we’ll just have to trust him. I do know it’s totally succulent, so if you can’t force him to make this for you, I’d definitely try it yourself.

Shrimp:
1 pound of shrimp, peeled and deveined, tail left on*
Cajun seasoning, good amount ( the more you use, the darker the sauce will be)
handful of sliced button mushrooms
1 tablespoon of chopped green onions
splash of sherry
ladle of shrimp stock
dab of butter
1 teaspoon of  thyme
1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1. Sprinkle seasoning on shrimp, mixing well.
2. Saute shrimp in veg oil on med high heat for about 2 -3 minutes. Add shrooms, then add sherry.
3. Once sherry has cooked out, add shrimp stock and reduce by 3/4.
4. Take off heat and swirl in butter, while stirring constantly.( If you don’t do this step, your sauce will break.)
5. Add thyme and green onions. Serve over grits with crusty bread.

*I would take the tail off because I hate having to get my hands all messy while I’m eating this, but The Chef says it’s prettier that way, so you’ll just have to decide which side of the line you fall on. My side or the wrong side.

Grits:
2 cups of shrimp stock (Chef says you can use chicken stock, but it won’t be as nummy)
2 cups of heavy cream
2 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup of stone ground grits

1. Combine liquid ingredients with salt and pepper in a medium saucepan and bring to a slight boil.
2. Slowly pour grits into the liquid while whisking constantly.
3. Turn the heat to medium low and cook for a about an hour stirring often.