This rich Shrimp Etouffee made with a dark, flavorful roux with a little spice and served over rice will bring a tasty piece of The Big Easy into your kitchen. The roux takes some time and patience to perfect but besides that Shrimp Etouffee is an easy meal and is perfect for serving a family.
Etouffee, which means “smothered” in french, is a sort of stew that typically consists of a roux, the Holy Trinity (onion, celery, and bell pepper), some garlic, hot sauce, and either shrimp, crawfish, or chicken. I like to add some diced tomatoes to mine, but many etouffee recipes do not have tomato.
The key to a good etouffee is the roux. Some people like it with a light roux, but I like the full flavor and richness of a dark roux. Unfortunately a dark roux takes much longer to make. You want to cook it long and slow over medium heat until it turns the color of milk chocolate.
Cook it over too high a heat or neglect to stir enough, and the roux will burn, and not only will you have to start over, but you will have a truly awful smell in your kitchen. Done that.
But to learn to cook a roux, unless you have a grandmother standing over your shoulder giving you guidance, you’re bound to burn a roux or two. It’s just part of the learning process. You really have to learn to sense with your eyes and your nose whether the roux is coming along at the right rate.
And whatever you do, DO NOT STOP STIRRING. Not even for a few seconds. You must stir continuously for at least 20 minutes. Not exactly my idea of fun. But worth it.
Not a leisurely stir either, really keep that mixture moving and make sure you’re using a whisk or wooden spoon that can really get to the edge of the pan. But careful not to splash the hot oil up on yourself!
When you are judging color, keep in mind that the roux will darken up when you add the veggies. Immediately turn the heat to low when you add them and stir well. Yes, your arm is getting a workout. There will be lots of hissing and spitting. From the vegetables coming in contact with the roux. Hopefully not from you. Don’t let this alarm you. They will quiet down shortly.
And one more thing. The pan or pot you use for cooking a roux is very important. It doesn’t really matter so much the shape or size or even the material so long as the bottom is very heavy. Use a pot with a thin bottom and it will be very difficult to not burn the roux. A cast iron pot or pan is perfect. I personally like using a Dutch Oven like the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron Dutch Oven
 or the Lodge Color Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
. Both are very versatile, reasonably priced pots that you will get a lot of use out of. I even do my deep frying in a Dutch Oven. Plus they will out live you in the kitchen.
It takes some patience, but learn to cook a roux and you will have a taste of New Orleans right in your kitchen.
Shrimp Etouffee
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (8-ounce) jar clam juice
- 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
- 2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons butter
- green onions, sliced
- white rice for serving
Instructions
- To make a roux, whisk together oil and flour in a large heavy saucepan (cast iron is perfect, but any heavy-bottomed pot or pan will do) over medium to medium-low heat. Once combined, it is easier to use a wooden spoon to stir. Stir continuously for at least 20 minutes, until mixture turns a dark caramel color. It should darken very slowly. If it darkens too fast, turn down the heat. The roux will burn if the heat is too high or you don't stir continuously. Be sure to really stir all the way up to the edges of the pot. You don't want any of the mixture to stay in one spot for too long.
- Turn heat to low and add onion, green pepper, and celery to roux. It will start to sizzle loudly and darken some in color. Cook 5 minutes, or until vegetables are soft.
- Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Add clam juice, tomatoes, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, black, white, and cayenne pepper, salt, thyme, and Tabasco. Bring to a boil and simmer 15 minutes.
- Add shrimp and cook 2 to 3 minutes. Turn heat off and add butter. Stir to mix it in.
- Serve with green onions and white rice and additional hot sauce.
Notes
Be sure to use a heavy-bottomed pan or pot for making the roux. Cast iron works perfectly.
Nutrition
Want to Save This Recipe?
Originally published September 7, 2104.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
This looks beautiful!
I wanted to ask a question.
It looks similar to gumbo so I was wondering how it’s distinctively different from gumbo. Is it just a lot thicker? I know this might be a silly question. I’ve just never made etouffee and this recipe is similar to my gumbo recipe (which is part of what makes me want to make it.) I just don’t want it to be mistaken for Gumbo. I definitely can’t wait to try it. Thank you!
Gumbo has okra in it. Okra is indigenous to Africa and was bought to this country during the slave trade. A tribal name for okra was gimbal. I think you can piece together the rest of the story.
For one I do believe that gumbo has suages in it
gumbo only has okra in it if you put it in it….okra does not make it gumbo. Gumbo is thinner than etouffee. Etouffee is a spicy gravy on just about any protein – chicken, shrimp, crawfish…etc
I’m from Louisiana. You can make sausage and chicken gumbo or seafood gumbo, both have roux in it. Okra gumbo has no roux at all. Etouffee is a roux gravy or red gravy made with any meat. Gumbo is thinner with more water and eaten like a soup.
I’ve ALWAYS wanted to make this and I am right now. It’s simmering on low and tastes amazing. Thanks!
Hope you enjoyed it! 🙂
Does anyone have suggestions on how to transport/reheat for a work gathering/party?
You can transfer to a crock pot and re-heat on site would be my suggestion.
This was soon good. I made the roux using oven method. Everyone loved this at dinner.
So glad everyone enjoyed it! I still have to try that oven method for the roux. It sounds so much easier!
I just made it and it was wonderful! Very easy directions! Now a family favorite
I made this yesterday and seriously it was Perfection! The flavors where bold and just amazing! Both my sister & mom said it was restaurant quality. It was my first time making etouffee and I totally rocked it. Hands down my new favorite!
Yay! I am so glad you liked it!
You should try making the roux in the oven. Whisk the oil and flour together in a dutch oven. Then pop it into a 350 degree oven for 1.5 hours, whisking 2-3 times in the oven. It’s longer but there’s virtually no stirring and there is no chance that it’s going to burn.
I would love this delicious, comforting dish! It looks pretty simple to make, but extra elegant, too. 🙂
This looks so tasty! Yikes, I have burnt roux before too – no fun and now I try to make sure there will be no distractions whenever I’m making one. Yours looks so flavorful and perfect. I really love everything about this dish!
The dish sounds so wonderful. I am loving the flavors of this dish. beautiful
I have burnt roux before and you are so right – the smell is awful!
Thanks for the tips on a perfect roux – your etouffee looks incredible!
Oh my, what a wonderful dish! I have always wanted to make this.
This looks awesome.
Gorgeous dish Christin, love etoufee. Looks amazingly flavorful.
I. Adore. Etouffee. I’ve always wanted to try making it at home but I’ve been so intimidated. Perhaps now is the time to dive in (how can I resist?) ! 😀
I like to think that my great-grandmother is always standing over my shoulder while I cook! Unless I’m cooking Hungarian dishes, in which case, I like to think my husband’s grandmother is guiding me. I’m weird.
This classic NOLA dish looks fabulous and I just love your plating and your bowl!!! Gorgeous! I imagine Shrimp Étouffée is a tricky one to capture 🙂 Pinned
Wow! This looks so good and rich. I have made many light roux but never a dark one. Time to try it!
I’d love to give it a try. Looks really scrumptious! The hubby would love it especially.
Pinned!
Girl you won’t believe this. Shrimp etouffee is on my editorial calendar in the next few weeks. Great minds right? This one looks absolutely perfect. That dark roux is flavor on top of flavor!
What a gorgeous dish, Christin! I’ve only made roux one other time, so I love that this recipe incorporates that. Looks like a delicious seafood meal!