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

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

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

Like this? Leave a comment below!Jump to Comments →

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

Similar recipes

Chicken and Rice Taco Skillet

Skillet Pizza Penne

BBQ Pulled Pork Bowls

Iced Oatmeal Cookie Bars

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

FAQs

What's the difference between shrimp étouffée and shrimp Creole? ›

Shrimp Creole and Shrimp Etouffee are similar dishes but are not the same. An etouffee has a consistency that is more like gravy and is thicker than shrimp creole sauce. Shrimp creole has a tomato base while shrimp etouffee has a roux for its base.

Is etouffee the same as a roux? ›

Generally, Cajun roux calls for flour and oil. Creole roux uses flour and butter. The second is tomatoes. Cajun Étouffée typically does not contain tomatoes whereas Creole Étouffée does include tomatoes.

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.

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 holy trinity in etouffee? ›

The "holy trinity" in Cajun cuisine and Louisiana Creole cuisine is the base for several dishes in the regional cuisines of Louisiana and consists of onions, bell peppers and celery. The preparation of Cajun/Creole dishes such as crawfish étouffée, gumbo, and jambalaya all start from this base.

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 cowboy roux? ›

Arrowroot is a flavourless starch does not require cooking. High heat and vigorous stirring can keep the liquid from thickening. Cowboy Roux: Substitute roux by making “cowboy roux”, a mixture of flour and water. It can be used as a thickener, but the taste of raw flour will remain.

Is étouffée Cajun or Creole? ›

Etouffee can be found in both Creole and Cajun cuisine, with slight but important differences in the seasoning and preparation of each version. Creole etouffee uses a traditional French-style roux made from butter and flour while the roux for Cajun etouffee is made with oil, lard, or other animal fats.

How do you thicken étouffée without flour? ›

Cornstarch is an excellent gluten-free alternative to flour, and it won't make your sauce look cloudy. A general rule of thumb is for every cup of liquid in the recipe, use 1 tablespoon cornstarch.

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.

Is Chick-Fil-A Whole30 approved? ›

Chick-fil-A

They're off-limits because they contain ingredients like cornstarch, molasses, and soybean oil. Even the fruit cups contain added sugar, and the salads have ingredients like soybean oils and cornstarch.

What olive oil is Whole30 approved? ›

Extra virgin olive oil is approved and Whole30 compliant. Regular olive oil (aka pure olive oil) and light tasting oil are also approved by the authors. While on the Whole30 plan, you should avoid most packaged salad dressings and mayonnaise. Most of these products are made with seed oils and are not compliant.

What side dishes go 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 is the best side for étouffée? ›

Here are some of the best side dishes to serve with crawfish etouffee:
  • Cajun Rice:
  • French Bread:
  • Mashed potatoes:
  • Baked beans:
  • Salad:
  • Jambalaya:
  • Fried Rice:
  • To Sum Up.
Nov 1, 2022

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.

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

Creole-type dishes combine the qualities of a gumbo and a jambalaya. They are typically thicker and spicier than a gumbo, and the rice is prepared separately and used as a bed for the creole mixture, rather than cooked in the same pot as with a jambalaya.

What are 3 main differences between Cajun and Creole foods? ›

So, what's the difference between these two cuisines? While they are very similar, they do utilize different ingredients. Cajun food is typically spicier than Creole food, and it also contains more pork and crawfish. Creole food utilizes more ingredients like tomatoes, shrimp, oysters, and crab.

What does étouffée taste like? ›

In some ways, its similar to gumbo – same types of Creole seasonings, served over rice, and made with a roux, but unlike gumbo, étouffée is often made with a“blonde”roux, giving it a lighter color and a very different almost sweet flavor. It's a unique taste you won't soon forget and worth trying at home.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Zonia Mosciski DO

Last Updated:

Views: 6592

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Zonia Mosciski DO

Birthday: 1996-05-16

Address: Suite 228 919 Deana Ford, Lake Meridithberg, NE 60017-4257

Phone: +2613987384138

Job: Chief Retail Officer

Hobby: Tai chi, Dowsing, Poi, Letterboxing, Watching movies, Video gaming, Singing

Introduction: My name is Zonia Mosciski DO, I am a enchanting, joyous, lovely, successful, hilarious, tender, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.