Whole30 Shrimp Etouffee - The Defined Dish - Recipes (2024)

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Whole30 Shrimp Etouffee - The Defined Dish - Recipes (1)

Cajun food, Cajun Food— oh, how I love thee! So much I created this Whole30 Shrimp Etouffee.

Seriously, all of the flavors infused in one dish is just so absolutely, breath taking-ly good. I just can’t get enough of it.

Growing up in the South, I’ve had my fair share of good Shrimp Etouffee. It’s definitely on the very top of my list of favorite Cajun food, along with a big bowl of gumbo and po’ boys. I knew I just had to recreate a Whole30/Paleo rendition in my kitchen because, although classic New Orleans-Style dishes will never remain authentic when translating to the Paleo world (uh, hello we can’t use flour and butter!) the flavors shine through and create a fantastic meal nonetheless.

Whole30 Shrimp Etouffee - The Defined Dish - Recipes (2)

Most of the time I’ve enjoyed Etouffee it’s been with leftover crawfish from a crawfish boil. My cousin hosts a Crawfish Boil every year and makes the most fantastic etouffee with the leftovers. We all come crawling back over the day after just to enjoy a big bowl of it. He makes it using one of my all-time favorite chef’s recipes, Chef Paul Prudhomme. (See his authentic Crawfish Etouffee recipe here).

Whole30 Shrimp Etouffee - The Defined Dish - Recipes (3)

I have to say that even though my recipe is not authentic, this Whole30 rendition of Shrimp Etouffee is freaking delicious and one that I think you’ll be seriously impressed with. Even without the ingredients to make a traditional roux, I think the way I did here is pretty darn close to the real deal (or at least as close as one can get without butter and flour). I hope you’ll give it a try and let me know what you think in the comments below!

So serve it up, Whole30 style, and let your taste buds sing with this Whole30 Shrimp Etouffee! I love dousing mine in Crystal’s Hot Sauce and sitting on the couch to watch trashy TV. It’s the perfect ending to a long day! Enjoy!

Whole30 Shrimp Etouffee - The Defined Dish - Recipes (4)

For another cajun shrimp recipe, try my Shrimp Remoulade Lettuce Cups.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 pounds shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt or more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons ghee
  • 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch/flour
  • 1 cup yellow onion, finely diced (or 1/2 medium onion)
  • 3/4 cup chopped celery or 1 large stalk
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced (reserve 1/4 for serving)
  • 3/4 cup green bell pepper, finely diced (or 1/2 medium bell pepper)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper or more to taste
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley for serving
  • Louisiana Style Hot Sauce for serving (I like Crystal's)

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.

  • When the oil is shimmering, swirl the pan so the oil evenly coats the skillet. Add shrimp in a single layer with salt and pepper. Cook shrimp until cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer cooked shrimp to a plate and set aside.

  • Reduce heat to medium and add ghee to skillet to melt. Add arrowroot and stir until combined with ghee, pressing all the clumps out with the edge of a spoon until smooth.

  • Add onions, celery, green onion, and bell pepper to the skillet. Season with cayenne, oregano, thyme, rosemary, crushed red pepper, bay leaf and paprika. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are tender, about 4 minutes. (The roux, vegetables, and spices will become sticky and adhere to the bottom of the pan. Continue to cook for 4 minutes, or until theveggies have softened, stirring frequently. Brown bits will develop on the bottom of thepan but they will help increase the flavor.)

  • Add the *drained* diced tomatoes and fish sauce. While stirring, slowly pour in the chicken stock, until incorporated. Bring to a rapid simmer. Stirring often and scraping up and browned bits, allow sauce to reduce, about 5-7 minutes.

  • Once the sauce has thickened, reduce heat to low and return shrimp to the skillet. Stir to combine.

  • Taste shrimp and adjust seasonings, if desired.

  • Serve over prepared cauliflower rice and garnish with parsley and hot sauce.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Alex Snodgrass

Servings: 4

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Dinner Dinner Fish fish Gluten-Free Paleo Recipes Whole30

Welcome! I’m Alex.

I’m a food lover sharing healthy, simple, delicious, recipes from my kitchen to yours. Here you’ll find lots of Whole30, lots of healthy, and a little indulgence here and there because…it’s all about balance y’all!

Get to know Alex

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Whole30 Shrimp Etouffee - The Defined Dish - Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you make etouffee less thick? ›

Add additional stock if mixture looks too thick (I added extra).

What is shrimp etouffee made of? ›

Vegetables: You'll need an onion, green bell pepper, celery, green onions, and diced tomatoes. Flour: All-purpose flour thickens the buttery vegetable mixture. Sauces: Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce add tons of flavor. Rice: Shrimp étouffée is served over cooked white rice.

What is the difference between shrimp etouffee and shrimp creole? ›

The etouffee has more of a gravy consistency which means that it's thicker than shrimp creole. Another difference is that shrimp etouffee is a lot spicier than shrimp creole. Lastly, shrimp creole normally has a tomato base while shrimp etouffee utilizes a roux for its base.

Can you eat shrimp on whole 30? ›

It's a delicious Whole30 dinner of sauteed shrimp lightened-up with homemade zucchini noodles in place of pasta. This zucchini noddles with shrimp recipe is Whole30, Paleo, and Keto compliant.

How do you thin out etouffee? ›

At this point, if the étouffée is too thick for your taste, add more stock as needed to thin it to your desired consistency. Season étouffée with salt and pepper. Spoon into bowls or onto plates with warm rice.

How do you thicken etouffee with cornstarch? ›

Combine equal parts cornstarch and cold water. Stir together until smooth. Pour into your sauce and cook over medium heat, stirring continually, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.

What to eat with shrimp etouffee? ›

Classically etouffee is served over white rice cooked with bay leaf and butter. I would keep at least one of the other sides pretty classic New Orleans as well: fried okra, grilled green beans, zucchini with tomatoes, corn bread, collard greens stewed with bacon, or maybe some grits.

What do you eat with etouffee? ›

There are a variety of delicious side dishes that can be served with crawfish etouffee. Some of the best options include rice, potatoes, and green beans. Each of these sides provides a unique flavor that compliments the etouffee perfectly.

What is the best side for etouffee? ›

  1. Jasmine Rice. Jasmine rice and etouffee go together like peanut butter and jelly. ...
  2. Cornbread. Cornbread is not just a slice of the South; it's also an ideal partner for etouffee. ...
  3. Cauliflower Rice. Are you on a health kick? ...
  4. Quinoa. Let's talk about quinoa. ...
  5. Polenta. ...
  6. Wedge Salad. ...
  7. Eggplant Parmesan. ...
  8. Mashed Potatoes.
Oct 4, 2023

What does Et tu Fay mean? ›

The word étouffée (pronounced eh-too-fey) comes from the French word“to smother.” The best way to describe this dish is a very thick stew, seasoned to perfection and chock full of delicious, plump crawfish (or shrimp) served over rice.

Does etouffee have roux? ›

Brown roux is the foundation of roux-based New Orleans dishes such as étouffée and gumbo. Of the three types of roux, brown roux is the darkest and most flavorful. Its color can range from a peanut butter color to a maple syrup color.

Is jambalaya the same as etouffee? ›

Both are considered main dishes, but étouffée is more or less a sauce or thick gravy, typically served over rice. Jambalaya, however, is a rice dish, akin to paella, its likely ancestor. One uses rice as a vehicle, the other as a staple component of the dish.

What is the best meat for Whole30? ›

Ideally, you should buy meat that is organic and beef that is grass-finished, but ultimately, pretty much any non-processed meat is on the table: beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, duck, you name it. Bacon, cold cuts, or other processed meats are no-nos.

What is Whole30 approved at Chick-Fil-A? ›

Whole30 at Chick-Fil-A

You can keep the tomato and lettuce! “The market salad is probably the most solid option on the menu as it's composed mostly of lean protein, fruits and veggies. Order the chicken plain and omit the blue cheese, dressing, and any other toppings,” says Stark.

What hot sauce is Whole30 approved? ›

Frank's Red Hot, Cholula, and Tabasco are also Whole30-approved. Hot sauce in general is usually fine, although as always, read labels and look out for additives like sugar, cornstarch, and sulfate. (Conveniently, I would argue, as a hot sauce enthusiast, most of the best hot sauces don't have any of these anyway.)

What if crawfish etouffee is too thick? ›

If etouffee is too thick, add ¼ cup more stock. Reduce heat to a simmer, adjust the flavor to taste, add crawfish tails.

How do you reduce the thickness of soup? ›

Add more liquid: The simplest solution is to add more liquid, such as water, broth, or milk. Start by adding a small amount and gradually add more until you reach the desired consistency. Use a blender: If you have a blender, you can puree the soup in batches, adding more liquid as needed.

What if my roux is too liquidy? ›

Whisk the flour into the fat until you have a smooth, thick paste. If it's too thick to whisk, add a little more fat. If it seems runny, add more flour.

Is etouffee thick or thin? ›

Both etouffee and gumbo are broth-based, using shrimp stock, seafood stock, crawfish tail stock, or chicken stock. But etouffee has a thicker, gravy-like consistency whereas gumbo is a thinner stew.

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