Paul Prudhomme Recipes

CHICKEN AND SAUSAGE GUMBO

Steps:

• Put chicken pieces in a bowl. Blend salt, peppers, mustard, cayenne pepper, paprika, granulated garlic and file powder. Rub four teaspoons of the mixture over the chicken. Set rest of spice mixture aside.
• Put the flour in a bowl and add two teaspoons of the reserved spice mixture. Blend well.
• Heat a 10-inch skillet and add the oil. Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour mixture to coat well, shaking off excess. Reserve the leftover flour.
• When the oil is hot and almost smoking, add the chicken pieces skin side down. Cook about two minutes on one side until golden brown. Turn and cook about three minutes on the second side until nicely browned. Do this in batches so as to not crowd the pan. Drain thoroughly on paper towels.
• Pour off all but one cup of fat from the skillet. Heat this oil over high heat until it is almost smoking and add the reserved seasoned flour. Stir rapidly and constantly with a wire whisk until the mixture is golden brown. Do not burn. This is a roux.
• Add the chopped onion, celery and green pepper to the roux and stir to blend well. Remove from the heat.
• Meanwhile, bring the broth to a boil in a large saucepan.
• Add about half a cup of the roux mixture to the broth, stirring rapidly with the whisk. Continue adding the roux mixture, half a cup at a time, always stirring rapidly and constantly.
• Add the smoked sausage and stir. Cook over high heat, stirring often from the bottom, about 15 minutes.
• Add the chicken pieces, bay leaf and finely minced fresh garlic. Cook about 40 minutes, on medium-low, stirring occasionally.
• Remove the chicken pieces. Cut the meat from the bones and discard the bones. Cut the chicken into cubes or shred it and add it back to the pot. Serve with white rice or potato salad (or both) spooned into the gumbo.

PAUL PRUDHOMME'S BLACKENED REDFISH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the paprika, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, thyme and oregano. Mix well. Set aside.
• Place a large cast-iron skillet over high heat until very hot, about 10 minutes. It will get smoky, so turn on the exhaust fan and turn off the smoke detector.
• Meanwhile, pour 2 tablespoons of melted butter in each of 6 small ramekins; set aside and keep warm. Pour the remaining butter into a shallow bowl. Dip each fillet in the butter so that both sides are well coated. Sprinkle the spice mix generously and evenly on both sides of the fish, patting it on by hand.
• When the skillet is heated, place the fillets inside without crowding and top each with 1 teaspoon of melted butter. Cook, uncovered, until the underside looks charred, about 2 minutes. Turn the fillets over and again pour 1 teaspoon of butter on top; cook until done, about 2 minutes more. Transfer to warmed plates and repeat with the remaining fish. Serve immediately, with a ramekin of butter on each plate.

PAUL PRUDHOMME'S POORMAN'S JAMBALAYA

Steps:

• Seasoning Mix: Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
• Jambalaya: Use a large, heavy skillet, cast iron is best; over high heat melt margarine; add tasso and andouille, or ham and sausage, and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add onions, celery, bell pepper, seasoning mix and garlic; stir and cook 10-12 minutes until well browned, scraping the bottom of the pan well.
• Stir in rice and cook 5 minutes, again scraping the pan bottom often; add stock.
• Bring mixture to boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, about 20 minutes, until rice is tender but still a bit crunchy; stir a bit towards the end of the cooking time; remove bay leaves and serve.

SHRIMP JAMBALAYA

Steps:

• Peel and devein the shrimp. The shells may be used to make a broth (see recipe).
• Heat the oil in a kettle or large saucepan with a heavy bottom over medium heat. Add the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly browned. Do not burn.
• Add the onion, green onions, green pepper, celery and garlic. Cook, stirring, until wilted. Add ham and stir. Add the tomatoes, thyme and oregano, and bring to a boil. Stir in the uncooked rice, if desired. Add salt, pepper and shrimp broth. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, uncovered, about 25 minutes; add the shrimp and stir. Cook about 10 minutes longer or until it has thickened, but is still slightly soupy. Serve in bowls with chopped green onions on the side as an optional garnish.

PAUL PRUDHOMME'S CHICKEN DIANE

Steps:

• Cook pasta and set aside.
• Mash 1/3 of the butter or margarine and combine with seasoning and chicken.
• Heat a skillet over a high fire until it's hot (about 4 minutes).
• Add chicken pieces and brown them about 2 minutes on the first side and about 1 minute on the other.
• Add mushrooms and cook 2 minutes.
• Add green onions, parsley, garlic and stock.
• Cook 2 more minutes or until the sauce is at a rolling boil.
• Add remaining butter or margarine (cut into pats), stirring and shaking the pan to incorporate.
• Cook for 3 minutes and add the cooked pasta.
• Stir and shake the pan to mix well.
• Serve immediately.

PAUL PRUDHOMME'S CAJUN MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• Combine the seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, bell peppers, green onions, garlic, Tabasco, Worcestershire and seasoning mix.
• Saute until mixture starts sticking excessively; about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the pan bottom well.
• Stir in the milk and catsup.
• Continue cooking for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool to room temperature. REMOVE BAY LEAVES.
• Place ground beef and pork in an ungreased 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
• Add the eggs, cooked vegetable mixture (cooled) and the bread crumbs. Mix by hand until thoroughly combined.
• In the center of the pan, shape the mixture into a loaf that is about 1 1/2 inches high, 6 inches wide and 12 inches long.
• Bake uncovered at 350° for 25 minutes, then raise heat to 400° and continue to cook until done, about 35 minutes longer.
• Serve Immediately as is or with "Very Hot Cajun Sauce for Beef".

NEW CRAWFISH ETOUFFEE

Steps:

• To make the seasoning mix, combine the salt, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, mustard, black pepper, white pepper and cayenne in a small bowl, and set aside. Preheat a 10-inch skillet, preferably nonstick, over high heat for about 4 minutes.
• Place the onions, peppers, celery and two teaspoons of the seasoning mix in the hot skillet. Stir and cook, scraping the bottom of the skillet, about 2 minutes. Stir in the apple juice, scraping bottom of skillet, and cook until the liquid evaporates and a glaze forms, about 7 or 8 minutes.
• Add the browned flour and remaining seasoning mix, and stir until a paste forms. If necessary, add small amounts of stock to moisten the flour. Spread the mixture across the bottom of the skillet and cook until the mixture sticks to the pan, 1 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in the stock and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook for two minutes, add the crawfish tails, mix well, and return to a full boil, and remove immediately. Serve over rice.

PAUL PRUDHOMME'S CAJUN SEAFOOD GUMBO WITH ANDOUILLE

Steps:

• Combine onions, bell peppers, and celery in a medium-size bowl and set aside. In a small bowl combine next 7 ingredients for seasoning; mix well and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat until it starts to smoke, about 5 minutes.
• Gradually add the flour, whisking constantly with a metal whisk. Continue cooking and whisking until roux is dark red-brown to black, 2-4 minutes.
• Immediately add half the vegetable mirepoix and stir well, switching to a spoon if necessary, 1 minute.
• Add the remaining vegetables, continuing to stir, about 2 minutes. Add the seasoning mix and continue to cook, about 2 minutes.
• Add garlic, stirring well for another minute. Remove from heat.
• Place the stock in a 5 1/2-qt saucepan or Dutch oven and bring to boil. Add roux mixture by spoonfuls, stirring until dissolved in between each addition. Bring back to boil.
• Add andouille and return to boil again; continue boiling for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
• Add the shrimp, undrained oysters, and crab meat. Return to boil, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat, skim oil from surface, and serve over rice.

BLACKENED FISH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together paprika, dry mustard, cayenne pepper, cumin, black pepper, white pepper, thyme and salt; set aside. Heat a heavy cast iron pan on high heat until extremely hot, about 10 minutes.
• Pour 3/4 cup melted butter into a shallow dish. Dip each fillet into butter, turning once to coat both sides. Sprinkle both sides of fillets with spice mixture, and gently pat mixture onto fish.
• Place fillets into hot pan without crowding. Carefully pour about 1 teaspoon melted butter over each fillet. Cook until fish has a charred appearance, about 2 minutes. Turn fillets, spoon 1 teaspoon melted butter over each, and cook until charred. Repeat with remaining fish.