Classic New Orleans Étouffée (Printable)

Experience New Orleans with this shrimp étouffée. A rich, dark roux, succulent shrimp, and Cajun spices served with rice.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Étouffée

01 - 1/3 cup vegetable oil
02 - 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1 medium onion, diced
04 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
08 - 2 cups seafood stock
09 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
11 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
12 - 1 bay leaf
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ For Serving and Garnish

14 - 4 cups cooked white rice
15 - 2 green onions, chopped
16 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Gradually whisk in flour to create a roux, stirring constantly until deep golden brown (chocolate-colored), about 15-20 minutes. Take care not to burn.
02 - Add diced onion, bell pepper, and celery to the roux. Cook for 5-7 minutes until vegetables are softened.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Gradually add seafood stock, stirring well to combine with roux and vegetable mixture.
05 - Add shrimp, Worcestershire sauce, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
06 - Bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and shrimp are cooked through.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Remove and discard bay leaf. Serve over hot cooked rice, garnished with chopped green onions and parsley.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dark roux creates a depth of flavor that makes people think you've been cooking all day
  • Its the perfect balance of comforting and impressive without requiring fancy techniques
02 -
  • A burnt roux cannot be saved and will ruin the entire dish with a bitter taste
  • Adding cold stock to hot roux can cause it to seize up so let them come closer in temperature first
03 -
  • Have all your ingredients prepped before you start the roux because you cannot step away once it begins
  • Make double the roux and freeze half for your next batch since it freezes beautifully
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