Bayou Stew Recipes

BAYOU OKRA SAUSAGE STEW

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, saute the first five ingredients in oil until the vegetables are tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add wine, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan., Stir in the tomatoes, okra, tomato sauce, soy sauce and hot sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 4-5 minutes or until okra is tender. Serve with rice., Freeze option: Freeze cooled stew in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Microwave, covered, on high in a microwave-safe dish until heated through, gently stirring and adding a little broth or water if necessary. Serve with rice.

CAJUN BAYOU SWAMP STEW

Steps:

• Drain clam juice from clams into a bowl and set aside. Rinse clams to remove any sand or grit that may be left in clams. In a large pot, saute your onions, celery, carrots, basil, bay leaves, garlic and parsley in olive oil for approximately 5 minutes. Deglaze your pot with white wine and saute vegetables for an additional 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes with puree, clams, reserved clam juice, water, Hot Sauce, potatoes, salt and pepper. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover your pot with lid. Simmer for 45 minutes or until potatoes are soft, the key is the potatoes. During the last 10 minutes ONLY of the above step add the shrimp and fish. (see note) Now Serve in with warm Sourdough Bread Bowls. (Available at any bakery)

BAYOU SHRIMP CREOLE

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat the bacon grease and slowly add the flour, (whisking constantly so it does not burn) until the roux becomes golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Add onion, bell pepper, and celery and stir until tender, about 20 minutes.
• Pour in the tomato sauce, tomatoes, and liquid from the tomatoes.
• Add the garlic, Tabasco, worcestershire, sugar, salt and pepper.
• Simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the wine and reduce by half, another 15 minutes.
• Add stock, 1/2 cup at a time, at about 15-20 minute intervals, reducing and stirring, let the vegetables really cook down.
• Taste all along the way, re-season according to your tastes.
• I like to cook this sauce down about 2 hours and then add the shrimp but you can add the shrimp anytime after the first hour.
• As soon as the shrimp are pink, about 10 minutes, remove the pot from the heat.
• Add the green onions, and parsley and serve over rice.

LOUISIANA BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, celery salt, garlic salt, black pepper, and ground ginger in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture evenly on to the beef.
• Heat a large heavy-bottomed pot on medium-high heat. Add the bacon drippings. Brown the beef in the pot, stirring as necessary. Drain excess fat.
• Add the diced tomatoes, onions, vinegar, molasses, and water to the pot and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 2 hours.
• Add the carrots and raisins and simmer for an additional 30 minutes, or until the carrots are tender. Serve with steamed rice.

FISHERMAN'S STEW

Steps:

• In nonstick 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add chopped pepper and onion, and cook 6 to 8 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and crushed red pepper, and cook 1 minute, stirring. Add wine and heat to boiling; boil 2 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes, salt, and 1/2 cup water; heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Add cod, mussels, and shrimp; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, 8 to 9 minutes or until cod and shrimp turn opaque throughout and mussel shells open. Remove Dutch oven from heat; sprinkle with basil.

BEEF STEW FROM THE BAYOU

Steps:

• 1. put the beef in a large bowl and season to taste with salt, pepper and hot sauce. Coat meat well with flour. In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add meat and brown on all sides in a single layer, working in batches if needed. Remove meat and keep warm.
• 2. Add onions, celery and garlic to the pot. Sauté for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft.
• 3. Return beef to the Dutch oven and mix. Add bay leaf, Worcestershire sauce, and stock. Stir and scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen meat/vegetable bits. Add carrots and potatoes and stir.
• 4. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat so the mixture simmers slowly for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until tender. Add green onions and season to taste. Simmer for another 10 minutes. Serve over rice. Makes 6 to 8 servings.