If you are craving a dish that is bursting with bold flavors and the colorful essence of the Gulf Coast, this Seafood Creole Recipe will quickly become your new favorite. Combining tender rock shrimp, succulent bay scallops, and flaky haddock in a rich, tomato-based sauce seasoned delicately with herbs and spices, this dish captures the heart of classic Creole cooking in every spoonful. It’s the perfect meal to share with family or friends, offering both comfort and a little fiery excitement on the palate.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this recipe plays a vital role, whether it’s building the foundation of flavor, adding depth, or brightening the dish’s vibrant appearance. These simple but essential components come together to create a harmonious balance of taste, texture, and color.
- Dried oregano: Adds earthiness and a subtle herbal note that supports the seafood.
- Salt: Brings out the natural sweetness in the seafood and vegetables.
- White pepper: Offers a mild pepper flavor without specks, maintaining a clean look.
- Black pepper: Provides a sharp, pungent heat that lingers pleasantly.
- Cayenne pepper: Infuses a subtle kick of heat essential to Creole dishes.
- Dried thyme leaves: Contributes a slightly minty, lemony flavor enhancing the sauce.
- Dried sweet basil: Balances the spices with a hint of sweetness and aroma.
- Butter: Creates richness and a silky texture to perfectly meld ingredients.
- Chopped tomato: Adds freshness and a slight acidity, building the base of the sauce.
- Chopped onion: Provides sweetness and depth when sautéed.
- Chopped celery: Offers crunch and a subtle hint of bitterness for balance.
- Chopped green bell pepper: Brings color and a mild pepper flavor typical of Creole cuisine.
- Minced garlic: Lends a fragrant warmth that amplifies the savory profile.
- Chicken stock: Gives body and layers of umami to the sauce.
- Tomato sauce: Intensifies the tomato flavor and thickens the stew.
- Sugar: Cuts acidity and enhances the natural sweetness.
- Hot pepper sauce: Adds a vinegary heat that wakes up the senses.
- Bay leaves: Impart an aromatic complexity throughout the simmering process.
- Rock shrimp: Offers a firm texture and mild sweetness.
- Bay scallops: Provide tenderness and a juicy burst of flavor.
- Haddock: Contributes flaky, white fish richness that absorbs the sauce perfectly.
How to Make Seafood Creole Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Seasoning Mix
Start by combining the dried oregano, salt, white pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, thyme, and basil in a small bowl. This blend of herbs and spices is the backbone of your Seafood Creole Recipe, delivering that characteristic Creole flavor profile.
Step 2: Cook Vegetables
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat, then add the chopped tomato, onion, celery, green bell pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté gently until the onions become translucent and the vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes. This step develops a savory base packed with bright, fresh flavors.
Step 3: Add Liquids and Seasoning
Pour in the chicken stock and tomato sauce, then stir in the sugar and hot pepper sauce. Toss in the bay leaves and the seasoning mix you prepared earlier. Reduce the heat to low and let everything simmer gently for 20 minutes. This slow cooking melds the flavors, allowing the sauce to thicken and deepen beautifully.
Step 4: Cook Seafood
Add the rock shrimp, bay scallops, and haddock to the simmering sauce. Cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the seafood turns opaque and firms up. Remember to remove the bay leaves before serving to avoid any bitter pockets of flavor. This final step ensures a tender, well-seasoned seafood stew that’s irresistibly satisfying.
How to Serve Seafood Creole Recipe
Garnishes
A sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or green onions adds a burst of color and a fresh herbal note that complements the rich flavors beautifully. Consider also a light squeeze of lemon to brighten the dish even further just before serving.
Side Dishes
This Seafood Creole Recipe pairs wonderfully with fluffy white rice or creamy grits, soaking up every bit of the delicious sauce. A side of crusty French bread is also perfect for mopping up the vibrant stew.
Creative Ways to Present
For a festive touch, serve the creole in individual hollowed-out bell peppers or in small cast iron skillets for a rustic presentation. Adding a dollop of cool sour cream or a wedge of avocado can provide a lovely contrast to the heat and richness.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover Seafood Creole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors meld even more overnight, making reheated portions surprisingly delicious.
Freezing
While seafood stews can be tricky to freeze because of texture changes, you can freeze the base sauce separately for up to 2 months. Add fresh seafood after thawing and shortly before eating for the best quality.
Reheating
Reheat gently on the stove over low heat to prevent the seafood from overcooking and becoming rubbery. Stir often and add a splash of stock or water if the sauce thickens too much.
FAQs
Can I use other types of seafood in this recipe?
Absolutely! While rock shrimp, bay scallops, and haddock are traditional, feel free to substitute or add crab, crawfish, or even firm-fleshed fish like cod. Just adjust cooking times accordingly to avoid overcooking.
How spicy is this Seafood Creole Recipe?
The recipe offers a moderate amount of heat from cayenne pepper and hot pepper sauce, but you can easily adjust the spice level up or down based on your preference by tweaking those ingredients.
Is this dish gluten-free?
Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free as written, using fresh ingredients and no wheat-based thickeners. Just double-check your stock and hot sauce labels to be certain.
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
You can create a vegetarian version by omitting the seafood and substituting vegetable stock. Add hearty vegetables like mushrooms or eggplant for substance and texture.
What’s the best rice to serve with Seafood Creole?
Classic long-grain white rice works beautifully here because it soaks up the sauce without becoming mushy. Jasmine rice can add a delicate aromatic touch if you want to shake things up.
Final Thoughts
When you’re ready to bring a little Creole magic to your table, this Seafood Creole Recipe is exactly the dish to make. It’s comforting, vibrant, and packed with layers of flavor that will have everyone asking for seconds. So go ahead, gather your ingredients, and dive into a taste of the Gulf that feels like a warm hug in every bite.
Print
Seafood Creole Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Creole
Description
This classic Seafood Creole recipe is a flavorful and hearty dish featuring a blend of shrimp, scallops, and haddock simmered in a spiced tomato-based sauce with aromatic vegetables and herbs. Perfectly balanced with a mild heat and rich seasonings, this Creole stew showcases the vibrant flavors of the Gulf Coast in a comforting one-pot meal.
Ingredients
Seasoning Mix
- ¾ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon dried sweet basil
Vegetables and Aromatics
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 cup chopped tomato
- ¾ cup chopped onion
- ¾ cup chopped celery
- ¾ cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1½ teaspoons minced garlic
Liquids and Sauces
- 1¼ cups chicken stock
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- 2 bay leaves
Seafood
- 1 pound rock shrimp, thawed if frozen
- 1 pound bay scallops, thawed if frozen
- 1 pound haddock, thawed if frozen
Instructions
- Prepare Seasoning Mix: In a bowl, combine dried oregano, salt, white pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, and dried sweet basil. Mix well and set aside for later use.
- Cook Vegetables: In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped tomato, onion, celery, green bell pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes, allowing the vegetables to soften and develop their flavors.
- Add Liquids and Seasoning: Stir in the chicken stock, tomato sauce, sugar, hot pepper sauce, and bay leaves. Add the prepared seasoning mix and stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Cook Seafood: Add the rock shrimp, bay scallops, and haddock to the pot. Continue cooking over medium-low heat, stirring gently, until the seafood turns opaque and firm, approximately 20 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaves before serving the creole stew hot.
Notes
- Use fresh seafood whenever possible for the best flavor and texture.
- Adjust the cayenne and hot pepper sauce to suit your preferred heat level.
- Serve over white rice or with crusty bread for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and gently reheated on the stovetop.
