Bayou Stew Food

BLEND OF THE BAYOU

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small saucepan, cook and stir cream cheese and 2 tablespoons butter over low heat until melted and smooth. , In a large cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, saute onion, celery and green pepper in remaining butter until tender. Stir in shrimp, crab, soup, rice, mushrooms, garlic salt, pepper sauce, cayenne and cream cheese mixture., Combine cheddar cheese and cracker crumbs; sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, until bubbly, 25-30 minutes.

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.

FISHERMAN'S SEAFOOD STEW

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions, celery and garlic and cook until softened, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add the wine and simmer until slightly reduced, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, parsley, crushed red pepper, thyme, salt and pepper and cook over medium heat for 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the cream.
• Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a separate pot. Add the cod, mahi-mahi, shrimp and scallops and cook until cooked through and no longer translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and add to the stew.

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

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Mix in water, lemon juice, pepper, rosemary, paprika and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer sauce until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 3 minutes. Season with salt. Add shrimp to sauce. Cover pan; cook until shrimp turn pink and are just cooked through, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer shrimp and sauce to shallow bowls, dividing equally, and serve.

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.

WONDERFUL SEAFOOD STEW

Steps:

• Thaw fish and shrimp, if frozen.
• Rinse fish and shrimp; pat dry.
• Cut the fish into 1-inch pieces.
• Cover and chill fish pieces and shrimp until needed.
• In a large saucepan heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
• Cook and stir onion, carrot, sweet pepper, and garlic in hot oil until tender.
• Stir in the undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, wine or chicken broth, bay leaves, dried thyme (if using), Cajun seasoning, cumin, and if desired, crushed red pepper.
• Bring the mixture to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
• Gently stir in the fish pieces, shrimp, and fresh thyme (if using).
• Cover and simmer about 5 minutes more or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork and shrimp are opaque.
• Remove the bay leaves before serving.

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.