Mardi Gras usually means crawfish, shrimp, jambalaya and all things Cajun. With so many recipes online, it’s tough to find one that’s both delicious and doable. That’s why we’re celebrating Fat Tuesday with one of our favorite authentic Cajun dishes.

 SHRIMP CREOLE

• 1 ½-2 pounds shrimp
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 2 ½ cup onions, finely chopped
• 1 ¾ cup celery, finely chopped
• 1 ½ cup green peppers, finely chopped
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
• 1 ½ teaspoons Tabasco sauce
• 2 ½ cups seafood stock or water
• 3 cups tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 ½ cups tomato sauce
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 5 cups rice, cooked

Clean and devein shrimp.

Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add 1 cup onions and cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Turn heat to medium/low and continue stirring frequently. Onions should caramelize in 3-5 minutes.

Return to high heat. Add the rest of the onions, celery, peppers and 2 tablespoons butter and stir occasionally until celery and peppers become tender. Add garlic, bay leaf and Creole seasoning. Stir well.

Add Tabasco sauce and ½ cup seafood stock or water. Reduce heat to medium and cover. Cook five minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and add tomatoes. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomato sauce. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the rest of the seafood stock or water and sugar. Simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add shrimp, then cook 3-4 minutes, just until they’re pink and plump.

Spoon ½ cup rice onto each serving plate, and top with 1 cup sauce. Serve.

(Recipe from Hungry Monster)

Dining out

If you’d rather spend Mardi Gras celebrating with family and friends instead of in the kitchen, these Cape restaurants offer Cajun flavors.

• Broussard’s Cajun Cuisine
• Buffalo Wild Wings
• Firehouse Subs
• Golden Corral
• O’Charley’s
• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
• Port Cape Girardeau
• Ruby Tuesday
• Steak ’n Shake
• The Lone Wolf Express
• Zaxby’s

For a complete list of all the delicious eateries in town – from all-American to fine dining – click here.