Mirliton Shrimp And Tasso Casserole Recipes

SHRIMP AND MIRLITON CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the mirlitons and cook until tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from the heat, drain, and set aside to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, combine the shrimp with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon Bayou Blast in a mixing bowl and toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• When the mirlitons are cool, cut them in half lengthwise, remove the seeds, peel, and coarsely chop. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions, bell peppers, and jalapeno. Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon Bayou Blast and the thyme. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft and lightly golden, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Add the mirlitons and cook, mashing them with a potato masher, until very tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 30 minutes. Add the shrimp, salt, black pepper, green onions, and parsley. Cook, stirring, until the shrimp turn pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Add the eggs, 1 cup of the bread crumbs, and the pepper sauce. Mix well. Spoon the mixture into a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of bread crumbs. Bake until the topping is lightly browned and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Serve warm.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William Morrow, 1993.

MIRLITON, SHRIMP AND TASSO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a large pot, add mirliton and cover with cold water. Season with salt and bring to a boil. Cook for 1 hour or until fork tender. (Pierce with paring knife and you should feel a little resistance.)
• Drain. Let cool on an open space. (Note: the mirliton should be treated as a root vegetable, which have very high water content. It is important not to overcook or shock with cold water to cool. This will cause the vegetable to lose its flavor and make the casserole watery.)
• Peel the skin from the mirliton with a paring knife. Cut in half from stem, top to bottom, de-seed, lightly mash. Drain excess liquid from mash.
• In a large pot over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon butter and sauté tasso for about four minutes or until brown.
• Add onions, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes or until tender.
• Stir in shrimp and garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
• Add mirliton and sauté for 3 minutes, constantly stirring. Remove from heat and season.
• Run 1 tablespoon of butter into 3 inch deep, large surface casserole dish. Add mixture and pat down lightly with hand.
• Optional: For custard, mix eggs, milk, and seasoning and whisk. Mix together with other ingredients.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• For topping, melt remaining butter. Add breadcrumbs, green onions, and seasoning and top casserole with mixture.
• Cover casserole with foil and bake for 1 hour. Remove foil. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown..

CAJUN SHRIMP MIRLITON CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Simmer mirlitons in water to cover by 2 inches in an 8-quart pot, partially covered, until very tender, about 1 hour. Drain mirlitons, then halve and peel, discarding pits. Coarsely chop in a food processor.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cook onions and bell peppers in 6 tablespoons butter in a 6- to 7-quart wide heavy pot over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add mirlitons and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid is evaporated, about 5 minutes. (Do not let vegetables brown.) Stir in cracker crumbs, shrimp, cayenne, and salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Spoon into a shallow 3-quart baking dish and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Dot with remaining 2 tablespoons butter and bake in upper third of oven until crumbs are just golden, 12 to 15 minutes.