Chef John's Shrimp ?touff?e

This restaurant-worthy shrimp ?touff?e recipe tastes like it came straight from New Orleans, but it's easy enough to make at home.

What Is ?touff?e?

?touff?e is a dish consisting of shellfish cooked in a rich sauce served over rice. The secret to authentic ?touff?e is a cooking technique called "smothering," a Cajun and Creole cooking technique that is similar to braising. In French, "?touff?e" means "smothered."

What Is In Shrimp ?touff?e?

These are the ingredients you'll need for this top-rated shrimp ?touff?e recipe:

· Spices and seasonings: This ?touff?e starts with a spice blend made with paprika, thyme, oregano, cayenne, garlic and onions powders, and white and black peppers. You’ll also need salt.· Shrimp: If your shrimp isn’t already peeled and deveined, you can do it yourself with our handy guide.· Oil: Cook the shrimp in a neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable oil.· Stock: Use store-bought or homemade chicken stock.· Butter: Cook the vegetables in three tablespoons of butter.· 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 ?touff?e is served over cooked white rice.

How to Make Shrimp ?touff?e

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make shrimp ?touff?e at home:

1. Make the spice blend.2. Season and cook the shrimp. Strain the shrimp juices into the stock.3. Saut? the onion, bell pepper, and celery in butter. Season and sprinkle with flour.4. Add the tomatoes and the stock. Cook until thickened and season with sauces.5. Stir the shrimp into the sauce and continue cooking until they're translucent.6. Garnish and serve the ?touff?e over rice.

What to Serve With ?touff?e

Looking for serving inspiration? We’ve got you covered. Check out our collection of Best Cajun Side Dishes that will pair perfectly with shrimp ?touff?e. There are a few of the delicious ideas you’ll find:

· Cajun Corn and Bacon Maque Choux · Fried Okra· Mom’s Cajun Hush Puppies

How to Store Shrimp ?touff?e

Allow your leftover shrimp ?touff?e to cool, then transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Cookdap Community Tips and Praise

“This is an excellent recipe and very forgiving,” according to Clemetee Whaley. “I added extra seasoning. It was even better the next day. Later, I served it over mashed potatoes instead of rice for a different variation.”

“The recipe is excellent,” raves Miriam Schurman. “It’s my go-to shrimp recipe. The only addition for me is 2 cloves of garlic. I’ve made it many times and everyone loves it. I sometimes replace the rice with noodles.”

“Excellent recipe,” says jpossehl. “I tripled the cayenne pepper just cause I like it hot and subbed some bacon fat in for butter. Came out awesome!”