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Home / Types / Southern Recipes / Southern Dinner Recipes

Shrimp Etouffee (Plus Video)

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Author: Imma Published:8/11/2021Updated:10/19/2021
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Shrimp Etouffee is a juicy shrimp dish smothered in rich and flavorful roux boasting rich, authentic southern flavors. Its bold spices are incredibly mouthwatering, and even better, it’s super easy to make!

Two bowls of Shrimp Étouffée  with rice in the background.

I totally appreciate easy, quick, and tasty meals. But if you want to put something exciting on your dining table, this Shrimp Etouffee recipe is a good place to start.

The French know how to make delicious food, but throw in a kick of African and Creole seasonings, and you have an unforgettable combination.

Once you taste it, you’ll want to put it on a weekly rotation. So while you’re planning your weekly menu, you might as well add this homemade Creole Seasoning to your spice list. It’s the mother of all Southern spices that adds depth and richness to any dish, plus it’s quick to put together and can be easily customized to your personal preference.

Contents…

Recipe Ingredients
How to Make
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead and Storage
FAQs
What to Serve
Other Awesome Seafood Recipes
Watch How to Make It

A skillet full of shrimp etouffee garnished with chopped parsley.

What Does Etouffee Mean?

You are probably thinking, what on earth is étouffée? I just love the way it sounds so French. It means smother or suffocate from the verb etouffée (from the fabulicious sauce that smothers it), and the pronunciation is something like AY-too-FAY. Yeah, I know you are not here for French 101. So I’ll bid adieu to this and get back to what you love.

What is the Difference Between Shrimp Creole and Shrimp Etouffee?

Shrimp etouffee is juicy, decadent shrimp smothered in a thick spicy sauce, then served with steaming white rice. On the other hand, Shrimp Creole has a thinner, more stew-like sauce and isn’t quite as spicy. However, both are equally delicious because the tomatoes, onions, celery, bell pepper, and garlic add an extra rich flavor.

Recipe Ingredients

shrimp etouffee ingredients on a sheet pan
  • Roux – Oil, butter, and flour make the perfect roux. Toasted flour and fat, when done right, are what make this shrimp etouffee recipe so awesome. If you need a gluten-free version, try an all-purpose gluten-free flour or cornstarch for the roux.
  • The Holy Trinity – Green bell pepper, onion, and celery are a staple in Southern Creole cooking because this holy trinity adds substance and flavor.
  • Creole Spices – Garlic, thyme, bay leaves, Creole Seasoning (why not make your own?), and smoked paprika are staples in Creole and Cajun cooking. Yum!
  • Tomatoes – This slightly acidic fruit makes a good base for many sauces, except for fruit salad. It balances the herbs’ intense flavors.
  • Worcestershire Sauce – This interesting flavor-enhancer that has an incredible variety of spices. Who would have thought anchovies and cloves would figure into the mix?
  • Seafood Broth – You can use store-bought, but I also include instructions on making your own. Why spend money needlessly when you can use what you already have? Chicken, beef, and vegetable broth also work if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Shrimp – I love seafood, and this is the cheapest way to satisfy my seafood craving. You can get it on sale and store it in the freezer for those nights you need something you can throw together quickly. If you want to go all out, lobster and crab are both delicious! Even chicken and pork would make a good etouffee.
  • Parsley and Green Onions – These beauties are not only a beautiful garnish, but they’re also a delicious topping on stews and soups. A little green on top of the plate always looks gorgeous.

How to Make Shrimp Etouffee

Instructions 1-4 making the seafood stock for shrimp etouffee

Shrimp Stock

  1. Saute the Ingredients – Add a teaspoon or two of butter or oil to a saucepan or skillet. Then throw in shrimp shells, the remaining scraps of onion, garlic, celery together with aromatics like bay leaf and thyme. (Photo 1)
  2. Add the Water – Sauté for about 5-7 minutes, constantly stirring to prevent burning. Add about 5 cups of water to it. (Photo 2)
  3. Simmer Away – Bring to a boil, lower heat, and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
  4. Almost Done – Remove from heat and strain using a sieve. Set stock aside. (Photo 3)
Instructions 5-8 Making the roux and sauce for shrimp etouffee
Instructions 9-12 The final stretch in making shrimp etouffee with shrimp sauce and white rice.

Etouffee

  1. Make the Roux – In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine melted butter, oil, and flour until smooth. (Photo 4)
  2. Patience – Cook on medium heat, stirring continuously, for about 10-12 minutes, or until you have achieved the desired color. During this process, don’t walk away from the stove because it might burn. (Photo 5)
  3. Make the Sauce – Add the onion, green pepper, and celery, and cook for 8-10 minutes – stirring frequently. (Photo 6)
  4. Add the Herbs – Then add garlic, thyme, and bay leaf – continue stirring about 2 minutes longer. (Photo 7)
  5. Add Tomatoes and Seasonings – Next, throw in about 1 cup chopped tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and Creole seasoning, and let it cook for 5 minutes. (Photo 8)
  6. Add the Stock and Shrimp – Gradually pour in about 2 cups of shrimp stock, bring to a boil, and let it simmer. Add the shrimp and simmer for 5 more minutes. Or you may season the shrimp with Creole seasoning, sauté for about 5 minutes, and then throw it in at the last minute. You’ve got two options here – both work. (Photo 9 & 10)
  7. Make Adjustments – Adjust the soup’s thickness and flavor with more shrimp broth or water, hot sauce, and salt. (Photo 11)
  8. Garnish – Stir in the green onions and chopped parsley. (Photo 12)
  9. Serve over hot cooked rice.

Recipe Variations

Etouffee is made with shellfish. So don’t limit yourself to shrimp. Crawfish Etouffee is incredible if you can’t get some fresh crawfish when it’s in season. But, hey, clams, oysters, mussels, lobsters, and crab all sound terrific.

Do you love the etouffee flavors but want a vegetarian version? Vegetable broth instead of seafood broth and baby portabellos, oyster mushrooms, tempeh, and eggplant instead of seafood all make suitable seafood substitutes.

Would you like to make it paleo? Use ghee instead of butter, arrowroot powder instead of flour (skip making the roux and add it as a slurry), and yuca fries instead of rice.

Tips and Tricks

  • The key to success for this dish is the roux (or sauce). Some people like the brown roux for deep, bold flavors, but I prefer the blonde roux for two reasons: First, it takes less time, approximately 5-7 minutes, to get rid of the flour’s raw flavor. And second, it has a slightly nutty taste, not as strong as gumbo but equally tasty in its own right.
  • Be sure to cook it over medium to low heat with constant stirring and whisking. Don’t stop even for a second, or you might end up having a burnt roux. 
  • This is one recipe that is best to get shell-on shrimp, if possible. Do not let the shelling and deveining of the shrimp scare you! They make for a quick and easy stock, and it’s flavorful too!

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead and Leftovers – This incredible dish is the perfect make-ahead. The flavor is even better the next day, so go ahead and make it the day before. Let it cool, then store it in the fridge. Make your rice and reheat your shrimp etouffee on the stove when you’re ready to serve. You keep your leftovers the same way.

Freezing – If I plan on freezing my etouffee for later, I try not to cook the shrimp first. Then I let the sauce thaw overnight in the fridge, and when I’m ready to serve it, I heat it in a pot on the stovetop and throw the shrimp it’s heating up.

Reheating – Heating leftovers is a breeze. Just warm it up in a pot on the stove. Heat your rice in a separate saucepan. Leftover rice is pretty dry, so you’ll want to add a splash of water to your rice so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan and burn.

FAQs

Etoufee vs. Gumbo

They’re both mouthwateringly good. Etoufee is a sauce, meaning it’s much thicker than gumbo. Gumbo is a soup (stew) with okra and gumbo filé to thicken it. The flavor in etouffee is actually a bit more intense.

Does etouffee have tomatoes?

That depends on whether you want Creole or Cajun food. The Cajun version nix tomatoes, but the Creole way puts them in. I like tomatoes, so they’re on my ingredient list.

Is etouffee spicy?

Another advantage to learning how to make your own etouffee is that you can control the amount of spice. Honestly, most dishes that are Creole or Cajun are spicy. No need to even ask.🤣

What Goes with Shrimp Etouffee

  • Homemade Garlic Bread
  • Fried Okra
  • Cajun Baked Sweet Potato Fries
  • Skillet Cornbread

Other Awesome Seafood Recipes

  • Salmon Salad
  • Seafood Paella
  • Lobster Mac & Cheese
  • Grilled Shrimp Kabobs
  • Shrimp Risotto
Shrimp Étouffée on a white plate with a scoop of white rice on top.

Watch How to Make It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”8ucJfXsH” upload-date=”Mon Aug 06 2018 19:57:54 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)” name=”Shrimp Etouffee” description=”Shrimp Etouffee — Juicy shrimp dish smothered in rich and flavorful  roux sauce made with  rich authentic southern flavors  and an incredibly delicious taste.  Easy recipe with big bold flavors!!!”]

 

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Shrimp Étouffée in a bowl with white rice
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Shrimp Etouffee

Shrimp Etouffee is a juicy shrimp dish smothered in rich and flavorful roux boasting rich, authentic southern flavors. Its bold spices are incredibly mouthwatering, and even better, it's super easy to make!
4.92 from 86 votes
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 30 minutes mins
Total: 40 minutes mins
Southern
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon (28 ml) canola oil
  • 2 tablespoon (28 g ) butter
  • ¼ cup (31 g) flour
  • ½ medium onion, diced
  • ½ cup green bell pepper, diced
  • ⅓ cup celery, chopped (about 1-2 stalks)
  • 2 teaspoon (10 g) garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon (1 g) thyme, fresh or dried
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup tomato, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon (5 g) Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon (1 g) smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoon (8 g) Creole seasoning
  • 2 cup (500 ml) seafood broth (can sub with water)
  • 1 pound (453 g) shrimp, (peeled and deveined) reserve shrimp shells
  • 1 teaspoon (5 g) hot sauce, optional
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 2-3 tablespoon (8-12 g) parsley, chopped

Instructions

Shrimp Stock

  • Add a teaspoon or two of butter or oil to a saucepan or skillet. Then throw in shrimp shells, the remaining scraps of onion, garlic, celery together with aromatics like bay leaf and thyme. 
  • Sauté for about 5-7 minutes, constantly stirring to prevent burning. Add about 5 cups of water to it. 
  • Remove from heat and strain using a sieve. Set stock aside.

Etouffee

  • In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine melted butter, oil, and flour until smooth. 
  • Cook on medium heat, stirring continuously, for about 10-12 minutes, or until you have achieved the desired color. During this process, don't walk away from the stove because it might burn. 
  • Add the onion, green pepper, and celery, and cook for 8-10 minutes – stirring frequently. 
  • Then add garlic, thyme, and bay leaf – continue stirring about 2 minutes longer. 
  • Next, throw in about 1 cup chopped tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and Creole seasoning, and let it cook for 5 minutes.
  • Gradually pour in about 2 cups of shrimp stock, bring to a boil, and let it simmer. Add the shrimp and simmer for 5 more minutes. Or you may season the shrimp with Creole seasoning, sauté for about 5 minutes, and then throw it in at the last minute. You've got two options here – both work.
  • Adjust the soup's thickness and flavor with more shrimp broth or water, hot sauce, and salt. 
  • Stir in the green onions and chopped parsley.
  • Serve over hot cooked rice.

Tips & Notes:

  • Comparable to gumbo and jambalaya, it’s made with Southern holy trinity. The roux is not as dark as the gumbo.
  • Feel free to switch out the shrimp with crawfish. I suppose you could even use chicken if you’re allergic to seafood. Just make sure to cook the chicken through.
  • If you want to add crabs to this recipe, cut down on shrimp or double everything else, minus the shrimp.
  • The key to success for this dish is the roux (or sauce). Some people like the brown roux for deep, bold flavors, but I prefer the blonde roux for two reasons: First, it takes up less time, approximately 5-7 minutes, to get rid of the flour’s raw flavor. And second, it has a slightly nutty taste, not as strong as gumbo, but equally tasty in its own right.
  • If you have the patience and persistence and want that brown roux flavor, go for it. Don’t let me stop you.
  • Be sure to cook it over medium to low heat with constant stirring and whisking. Don’t stop even for a second, or you might end up having a burned roux. 
  • This is one recipe that is best to get shell-on shrimp, if possible. Do not let the shelling and deveining of the shrimp scare you! They make for a quick and easy stock, and it’s flavorful too!
  • Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1cup| Calories: 300kcal (15%)| Carbohydrates: 13g (4%)| Protein: 27g (54%)| Fat: 15g (23%)| Saturated Fat: 4g (25%)| Cholesterol: 300mg (100%)| Sodium: 215mg (9%)| Potassium: 414mg (12%)| Fiber: 1g (4%)| Sugar: 2g (2%)| Vitamin A: 1385IU (28%)| Vitamin C: 32.6mg (40%)| Calcium: 189mg (19%)| Iron: 3.7mg (21%)
Author: Imma
Course: Main
Cuisine: Southern
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Comments & Reviews
  1. Moria F-R says

    Posted on 5/11 at 3:04PM

    5 stars
    This was amazing. I forgot to buy a tomato so I used a cup of canned diced tomato and that was just fine, maybe better considering the quality of tomatoes at the store recently!

    Reply
    • Imma says

      Posted on 5/12 at 8:02AM

      Amazing!!!!! That looks absolutely delicious!! Glad you loved it. Looking forward to you trying more of my recipes.

      Reply
  2. Karyn says

    Posted on 8/14 at 3:46PM

    5 stars
    We’ve long been a fan of your Po Boy recipe and tried this one tonight. Wow! This is amazing! We love it. I was worried about the roux turning out but the directions were great. This was better than any southern food we’ve had in a southern restaurant.

    Reply
    • Imma says

      Posted on 8/16 at 6:53AM

      Glad to hear about your experience. Thank you so much for your continuous support!

      Reply
  3. David Jones says

    Posted on 4/29 at 9:52AM

    5 stars
    Ms. Imma, in addition to being an obviously skillful chef, you have an even greater gift as a communicator. I’ve made etouffee for years, using lots of different recipes (Joy of Cooking, etc.). I have never had the dish explained, the steps laid out, and variations suggested with such clarity and skill. Your recipe method, which has an openness and sense of fun, gave me the freedom to experiment, and I loved learning the distinctions between Cajun and creole — not that I really understand them, but it was cool info. I will certainly come back to you again, as I think you are unrivaled in the way you present a recipe.
    Oh, and the etoufee turned out great (I added additional green pepper and red pepper, quick-sauted with cajun seasoning, near the end to give the dish some texture and color and finished with White Balsamic vinegar). Like I said, you’re obviously a superb chef!>

    Reply
    • Amina says

      Posted on 4/29 at 10:37AM

      Thank you so much for your lovely feedback. Audience support and love are very necessary to keep the motivation alive. Thanks again!!!

      Reply
  4. Lissa says

    Posted on 3/27 at 9:30AM

    5 stars
    I have made this recipe many times over the last few years. It has truly become a family favorite! My husband likes it when I add crawfish tails in addition to the shrimp. I usually make my own shrimp stock for this but since this recipe has become so popular amongst my family I have used chicken stock in a pinch and it turned out great! Thank you!

    Reply
  5. PatS says

    Posted on 2/16 at 2:39PM

    5 stars
    Wow! This is just delicious.. Just exactly what I craved on a cold night, and so easy to make.

    Reply
  6. Mimi says

    Posted on 1/31 at 7:25AM

    5 stars
    My bf and I made this recipe on Saturday night and we had a great time and a great meal! This came out so good. We both had 2 bowls each! And the next day the flavors were even better!! Thanks you so much for helping us get out of our dinner rut and making a new meal. Will definitely be checking out your site for other recipes.

    Reply
    • imma africanbites says

      Posted on 1/31 at 9:45PM

      Oh, I’m so glad this turned out great for you and your bf, Mimi. Looking forward to your next kitchen adventure. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Gregg says

    Posted on 1/21 at 1:55AM

    I have ONE WORD for this dish, “FANTASTIC!” I followed the recipe to the letter and it turned out great. Bon Ap’pitite!!!

    Reply
  8. Drew says

    Posted on 1/17 at 6:37AM

    In the ingredient list, it calls for “seafood broth”, and in the instructions you describe how to make “Shrimp stock”, and then later in the instructions you say to add more “shrimp broth”. I’m pretty sure these are all meant to be the same thing, but since I’ve not made this before, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t shorting anything. Can’t wait to try this recipe out, sounds great!

    Reply
    • Amina says

      Posted on 1/21 at 6:43AM

      Great! I’m so happy you’re going to try it. The instructions for shrimp stock (broth) make 5 cups. Then you use 2 cups of the broth for the etouffee and later add as much as you want to get the preferred consistency. You can freeze the leftover broth for later if you wish. I hope this makes sense

      Reply
  9. David says

    Posted on 1/8 at 7:03AM

    4 stars
    Great recipe
    Just the right spice level for our guests who don’t care for much heat. Used Prime Shrimp’s Signature creole shrimp (www.primeshrimp.com), which were delicious. Will definitely make again. Will make the creole seasoning after my next grocery run–almost out of paprika.

    Reply
  10. L Yankovich says

    Posted on 12/28 at 5:47PM

    5 stars
    Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful recipe!! This was my first attempt at Cajun/Creole cooking and thanks to your easy-to-follow directions, it came out incredibly delicious!! So glad you included the shrimp stock & seasoning recipes/link. My fuss-pot hubby loved it.

    Reply
  11. Dee says

    Posted on 11/4 at 8:29PM

    5 stars
    Great flavor and taste! Fun date night recipe. Thank you!

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 11/5 at 12:54PM

      Thanks Dee! Glad you liked it!

      Reply
  12. Debbie says

    Posted on 10/19 at 12:35PM

    This recipe looks delicious, I can’t wait to try this weekend. I noticed in the nutrition info that it says 1g =300 calories, is that correct?

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 10/19 at 12:58PM

      Hi Debbie! Thanks for pointing that out, I have updated it, it should say 1 serving.

      Reply
      • Debbie says

        Posted on 10/22 at 4:35PM

        I made it tonight and all I can say is there’s 5 completely cleaned off plates. It will definitely be made again. Thank you

  13. Maria says

    Posted on 8/12 at 8:16AM

    Imma thank for such a wonderful recipe. My family loved it!

    Reply
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