Cajun Potato Stew Recipes

SHRIMP AND POTATO STEW

Steps:

• Season the shrimp with the Essence and transfer to the refrigerator until needed.
• Heat a large saucepan and add 1 tablespoon of the oil. When hot, add the shrimp shells and cook, stirring, until fragrant and pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Add 10 cups of water and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook, skimming any foam that rises to the surface, for 30 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and discard solids. Set shrimp stock aside.
• In a heavy bottomed Dutch oven or soup pot, heat the 1 cup vegetable oil and, when hot, whisk in the flour. Cook, stirring constantly, until a roux is formed the color of dark peanut butter, about 7 minutes. Add the onion and cook until soft, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and 2 tablespoons of parsley and cook for 1 minute. Add the potatoes, 8 cups of the reserved shrimp stock, the salt, cayenne, and black pepper and bring to just to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are very tender and the sauce is thickened, 30 to 40 minutes. Add the andouille sausage and cook partially. Drain some of the fat and add shrimp, remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, green onions and red chile pepper and stir to combine. Remove from the heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Serve immediately over hot white rice in shallow bowls.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William Morrow, 1993.

CAJUN POTATO WEDGES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
• Cut each potato into 12 wedges; place in a large bowl. Toss potatoes with olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, onion powder, and paprika. Arrange in a single layer on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Turn potatoes over and continue baking until golden and crisp, 25 to 30 minutes longer.

CAJUN CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste (The chicken can be marinated in olive oil and black pepper overnight. Add salt last minute if marinated) Make a dark roux- In a heavy iron skillet (prefer cast-iron), heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.
• Add the flour.
• With a wooden spoon, stir constantly and thouroughly, until the flour mixture reached an even chocolate color, about 15 minutes (black flecks means it's burned and will be bitter. Start over).
• Carefully add the onions, celery and Bell pepper.
• Stir constantly for 60 seconds.
• Add Garlic, stir to mix, and add the chicken.
• Stir to coat the chicken with the roux mixture.
• CAREFULLY and slowly, add the chicken stock.
• Chicken mixture can be transferred to a larger pot at this point. A Dutch oven is recommended.
• Cover the chicken with water, bring to a boil.
• Place the lid on the pot, reduce heat and simmer for 45-50 minutes.
• Stir occasionally, Sauce should be thickened.
• Just before serving, add chopped parsley to taste, season with salt and red pepper to taste.
• Serve over hot white rice.
• Hint: For saving leftovers, store the rice and the sauce in seperate containers.
• This prevents the rice from getting soggy.

CAJUN MEATBALL STEW

Steps:

• In heavy dutch oven (preferably cast iron or cast aluminum), heat oil over medium high heat. Add flour. Stir, constantly, until flour is dark brown, being very careful not to burn. Flour should be almost the color of chocolate syrup. This is your roux, which is the base of your gravy.
• To the flour mixture, add 2 cups of the chopped onion, 1 cup of the bell pepper and 1/2 cup of the celery. Reduce heat to medium, cooking until onions are transparent. Add enough water or beef broth to fill pot 2/3 of the way. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
• While this is cooking, make meatballs by combining ground chuck, remaining onions, bell pepper, and celery, 2 cloves of the minced garlic, eggs, milk, worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup of the parsley, bread crumbs, and salt and cayenne pepper. Mix well.
• Form into whatever size meatballs you prefer. I like to make mine about 1 1/2 - 2" round. One trick to making tender meatballs is not to pack the meat too firmly. Just form them enough for them to hold together. Also, do not pre-cook the meatballs after rolling.
• Add meatballs to the gravy. DO NOT STIR FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES! Stirring them will break them apart. Cook over medium low heat until gravy is desired consistency. Adjust seasoning with salt and cayenne pepper. Skim as much of the fat as you can off of the top.
• Stir in remaining garlic, parsley, and chopped green onions. Cook for 5 minutes longer.
• Serve over hot cooked rice. I usually serve this with a side of early green peas or corn, and a fruit salad of some kind, such as pineapple, topped with grated cheddar cheese.
• As for the prep and cooking times, I just took a wild guess. Hehe!

ROASTED CAJUN POTATOES

Steps:

• Cut each potato lengthwise into eight wedges. , In a large bowl, combine the oil, shallots, garlic, salt, paprika, cayenne and pepper; add potatoes and toss to coat. Place in a greased roasting pan., Bake, uncovered, at 450° for 45-50 minutes or until tender and golden brown, turning every 15 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

CAJUN POTATO WEDGES

Steps:

• Cut each potato lengthwise into eight wedges; place in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with Cajun seasoning; toss to coat., Bake at 450° for 20-25 minutes or until tender, turning once.

CAJUN CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot (preferably cast-iron) over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Pat chicken dry and sprinkle with salt. Brown chicken in 4 batches, turning, about 5 minutes per batch, transferring as browned to a large bowl.
• Add enough of remaining oil to pot to total 1/4 cup fat, then stir in flour with a flat metal or wooden spatula and cook over moderately low heat, scraping back and forth constantly (not stirring), until roux is the color of milk chocolate, 10 to 20 minutes. Add onion, bell pepper, and celery and cook, scraping back and forth occasionally, until onion is softened, about 8 minutes.
• Add water to roux mixture and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally until roux is incorporated. (Roux will appear curdled initially, but will come together as it reaches a boil.) Add chicken and any juices accumulated in bowl, then simmer, partially covered, until chicken is cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes. Stir in cayenne, scallion greens, and salt to taste and serve over rice.