Shrimp Creole

I posted the original recipe from Louisiana Cookin' Magazine.  In typical style, I changed it up and my changes are posted below.








1 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2½ cups finely chopped onion
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 bunches green onion, green parts finely chopped, white parts roughly chopped
½ large green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
3 fresh bay leaves
¼ teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
Juice of ½ large lemon
2½ cups water
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons salt
2½ pounds large fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
Cooked long-grain white rice, for serving
Garnish: chopped green onion

Instructions

1. In a large heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, add oil; stir in flour, stirring constantly until a peanut butter-colored roux forms (10 mins in my cast iron skillet). Reduce heat to low and add onion, garlic, green onion, and bell pepper. Stir well, and cook until softened, 4 to 6 minutes.
2. Stir in tomato sauce, thyme, bay leaves, oregano, and lemon juice. Increase heat to medium, and bring sauce to a simmer. Add 2½ cups water, cayenne, and salt, and simmer until thickened, 30 to 45 minutes.
3. Gently stir in shrimp, reduce heat to a gentle simmer, and cook, covered, about 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes more. Remove and discard bay leaves. Serve over rice with green onion, if desired.

I liked this recipe but it needed something more.  I purchased some boneless, skinless chicken thighs and fried them up in the oil first.  I coated them with flour and about 2 - 3 tablespoon of cayenne, garlic powder and seasoning salt.  After frying, I added a little more oil to the pot then began making the roux as directed.

I diced then added the chicken at the end of step 2.

These changes made the roux spicier and added more bulk/less soupy to the meal.  Serve with French bread.  

Crustacean-Inspired Garlic Roasted Sea Feast w/ Garlic Noodles

Crustacean is a landmark* San Francisco restaurant that remains well regarded** among locals and tourists alike.***

*     aka "overrated tourist trap"
**   aka  "rests on its previously well deserved reputation and currently provides crap food and service"
*** aka "people who have not yet figured out that there are many dupe recipes for the famous garlic noodles, or how
       easy it is to roast a crab at home or find it at another SF restaurant"

#Occupy Crustacean's Kitchen!

GARLIC NOODLES

20 oz Asian wheat noodles -- your choice of cut  [rice noodles will not work]

Garlic Sauce:

1 stick unsalted butter
2 heaping tablespoons minced garlic (more or less to taste)
1 tablespoon Maggi seasoning sauce, or soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce, or 1 shrimp boullion cube
1 tablespoon sugar or honey

cracked fresh pepper, to taste

Garnish:  chopped Vietnamese or regular coriander (cilantro);  grated parmesan  ["Gene-eeeeee!!!"]


Boil the noodles al dente; drain and set aside.

Prepare the garlic sauce using a saute pan on medium to low heat.  Melt butter; add the garlic and saute until aromatic but not browned.  Add all remaining seasonings to the pan, stir to combine well. Transfer the garlic sauce into a small bowl.  Add pasta to saute pan; quickly toss over medium heat, adding garlic sauce in increments until noodles fully coated and re-heated.  Transfer to bowl or individual plating; garnish.

GARLIC ROASTED SEA FEAST

[Serves 2]

1 Dungeness Crab (about 4 lbs), cleaned and cracked
2 lobster tails
1/2 lb. prawns
3/4 stick unsalted butter
6-8 cloves coarsely chopped garlic
2 teaspoons chicken or shrimp bouillon, powdered
2 teaspoons coarse cracked black pepper
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 bunch scallions, sliced to 1 inch pieces
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger

Garnish: whole flat leaf parsley shoots; lemon slices.


Clean all shellfish; crack the crab in half and partially crack the claws, reserve the shell; score cut the lobster tails down the soft middle.  Heat up the butter stove top in roasting skillet or pan; cast iron preferred.  Saute the garlic until aromatic, but not brown. Add in the black peppers, chicken or shrimp bouillon, pepper; then add in the seafood [crab, then lobster, then shrimp] and stir well until approx. 1/4 cooked.  Add in the sugar, ginger and scallions, then cook until half done.

Bake in the oven at 350 degree F until done to taste.  Serve on platter with garlic noodles and garnishes.