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Cajun Shrimp Stew

3.8

(21)

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Cajun Shrimp StewRomulo Yanes

This satisfying stew just may be the essence of Cajun cooking: shrimp with onion, celery, and green pepper, all given depth by brown roux and livened up with cayenne.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    35 min

  • Yield

    Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small celery rib, finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1 cup bottled clam juice (8 fluid ounces)
3/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/4 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp (21 to 25 per pound)
1/3 cup thinly sliced scallion greens
Accompaniment: white rice

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Stir together oil and flour in a 10-inch heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) with a metal or wooden spatula, then cook over moderate heat, scraping back and forth constantly, until roux is the color of light milk chocolate, 10 to 12 minutes.

    Step 2

    Add onion, celery, and bell pepper and cook, scraping back and forth occasionally, until bell pepper is softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in clam juice, water, salt, and cayenne and simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid is thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in shrimp and simmer, stirring occasionally, until shrimp is just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in scallion greens and salt to taste.

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