Recipe: Shrimp a la Creole

Shrimp a la Creole

2 pounds shrimp (31-40 per pound), shell on
1 1/2 cup onion, onion, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup bell pepper, diced
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 1/2 stick butter, divided
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Two 15-ounce cans chopped tomatoes
1 bunch flat leaf parsley (cleaned and chopped fine
1 bunch green onions, cut thin
Salt and pepper to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste
4 bay leafs
1 1/2 quart water
3 ounces cooking oil (vegetable, peanut, or olive)

Peel and devein shrimp - reserve shells. Make a shrimp stock by adding shrimp shells, water, tomato paste and vegetable trimmings together in a 2-quart pot. Bring stock slowly to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

While stock is simmering, saut garlic in the cooking oil in a 4-quart pot, then add onion, celery, and bell pepper. When vegetables are softened, make a roux by adding 1/2 stick of the butter and stirring in the flour until it is absorbed. Strain the hot shrimp stock and discard the shells. Add the stock to the pot, stirring constantly. Add chopped canned tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes (adding water if necessary).

Add shrimp and parsley and continue to cook for 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt, black pepper and cayenne add the remaining 1 stick of cold butter while stirring constantly to lightly thicken the sauce.

Serve over hot buttered rice with chopped green onions.