Haitian Creole Seafood Gumbo Recipes

CREOLE-STYLE SHRIMP AND SAUSAGE GUMBO

Steps:

• Bring the reserved shrimp shells and 4 1/2 cups water to a boil in a stockpot or large saucepan over med-high heat.
• Decrease heat to med-low and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Strain the stock and add the clam juice and ice water (you should have about 2 quarts of tepid stock, 100 to 110 degrees); discard the shells; set the stock aside.
• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed saucepan over med-high heat until it registers 200 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
• Decrease the heat to medium and gradually stir in the flour with a wooden spatula or spoon, working out any lumps that form.
• Continue stirring constantly, reaching into the edges of the pan, until the mixture has a toasty aroma and is deep reddish brown, about the color of an old copper penny or between the colors of milk chocolate and dark chocolate, about 20 minutes (the roux will become thinner as it cooks; if it begins to smoke, remove the pan from the heat and stir the roux constantly, to cool slightly).
• Add the onions, bell pepper, celery, garlic, thyme, salt, and cayenne to the roux and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables soften, 8-10 minutes.
• Add 1 quart reserved stock in a slow, steady stream while stirring vigorously.
• Stir in the remaining stock.
• Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil.
• Decrease heat to medium-low, skim the foam off the surface, add the bay leaves, and simmer, uncovered, skimming any foam that rises to the surface, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in the sausage and continue simmering to blend the flavors, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in the shrimp and simmer until cooked through, about 5 minutes.
• Off the heat, stir in the parsley and scallions and adjust the seasonings with salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste.
• Remove the bay leaves and serve immediately.

HAITIAN CREOLE SHRIMP

Steps:

• Saute bell pepper, Scotch Bonnet pepper, onion, celery, and garlic in butter, for 3-5 minutes.
• Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, prepared mustard, sugar, Tabasco(if using), seasonings and bay leaf.
• Simmer 20-25 minutes, stirring often.
• Add shrimp and simmer 10 minutes longer.
• Remove bay leaf.
• Serve over rice and enjoy!

HAITIAN CREOLE SEAFOOD GUMBO

Steps:

• Preparing The Gumbo Base Like a lot of sauces, it's best to make this the day before and cool overnight in the refrigerator to allow flavors to meld together. Heat stock while preparing roux. Melt butter in a heavy pan. Add flour and stir in. Stir roux constantly over medium heat until it reaches a uniform chocolate color. Remove roux from heat and immediately add celery, peppers and onions (the holy trinity of Creole cooking). This will stop the caramelization process. Stir the gumbo file into the roux and add stock. Return the gumbo base to heat and bring to a simmer, stirring a few minutes to let the roux cook. Bake sliced sausage in a hot oven until browned. Add the sausage, tomatoes and baking soda to the gumbo base and simmer for 20 minutes more. Turn off the heat and add herbs, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce and okra. Making The Final Dish Cooking the seafood separately from the gumbo base allows the shellfish to maintain its own identity. About an hour before you're ready to eat, reheat the gumbo base until it nearly simmers. Sauté all the clams and mussels in olive oil, chopped garlic and a splash of white wine in a large skillet or heavy bottomed pan until they just start to pop open. Add the shrimp and scallops, and continue to sauté until they are about done (when they start to lose their transparency). Add the seafood to the gumbo base and toss to mix. Serve in a single large bowl, using tongs to arrange the clams and mussels along the edge of the dish. Place the rice in the middle of the dish and sprinkle with chopped parsley or finely diced peppers for garnish, if desired.

JUANITA'S CREOLE GUMBO

Steps:

• In a large pot, put 2 cups water, salt [to taste] add crab boil, thyme and peppercorns.
• Bring to a roiling boil; add crabs and boil for approximately 20 minutes, add tomatoes and okra, and simmer slowly.
• While this simmers, make the roux.
• Slice the bacon strips into small pieces and fry.
• Remove.
• Sauté the chopped onion and garlic in the bacon grease.
• Remove.
• To bacon drippings, add enough flour to make a thin gravy.
• Use very low flame, stir continuously, taking care to make it dark brown without burning it.
• Add bacon and onion& garlic bits back to mixture and heat.
• Add roux to simmering seafood pot.
• Stir very well.
• Add shrimp and simmer approximately 30 minutes.
• Add oysters and simmer only until edges of oysters curl.
• It is done, serve over a bed of rice.