You haven’t got a hold of this Shrimp Creole recipe because I usually favor Gumbo when pulling this type of stunt. The recipe is “made for 8” due to shrimp amount however, I believe for 4 very comfortably. Aside from meat choices there's really only a couple 3 ingredients and techniques that separate the 2. Keep reading
Gumbo doesn’t have tomatoes and Shrimp Creole doesn't have okra and probably bacon. Shrimp Creole uses flour as a thickener unlike Gumbo uses flour as a roux for taste and frankly tint base. Remembering off hand, time. Throughout the south roux’s go from light to dark all being the best depending on what family member you're talking to.... but this is not Gumbo. By all means add your own extras if you’re feeling froggy! I’ll be inserting okra next time ;)
Cook bacon in large skillet on medium low and keep an eye on it.
Peel and clean the shrimp. Cover shrimp in Cottonmouth and place in fridge. Save heads and shells.
Pour the 2 1/2 cups of water in a saucepan on medium heat.
Chunk shrimp heads and and shells in saucepan of water along with a dash of salt.
Stir in the the shrimp heads, bring to simmer, turn off heat, and let steep.
With 4 empty bowls dice onions, bell pepper, garlic, green onion, tomato (deskinned), and celery. The green onion, tomato, and celery get their own bowls. (onions, bell pepper, and garlic = 1 bowl)
When bacon is crispy set it aside keeping grease.
In bacon grease pan add 2 ounces of butter and celery on medium heat.
When celery is soft add onion, bell pepper, garlic, and salt. Cook till translucent. These together is known as Trinity minus the garlic.
Drain shrimp water through a colander saving the water discarding the shells.
Whisk the 2 tbs of flour into the shrimp water.
Add the tomatoes to the veggies pan. Cook on medium until concoction re-bubbles.
Stir in the shrimp flour water, bay leaves, Worcestershire, bacon, and hot sauce.
Carefully taste test the fluid for salt. Add if needed.
Simmer for 20 minutes. This is the thickening process, you can go thick or thin here. Too thick or salty add water.
Stir in shrimp, green onions and parsley.
Simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove bay leaves.
Rice Prep
In another saucepan on medium low simmer add butter to melt and cover metal.
Drop in rice and toast or don’t toast. Just get butter coverage around rice.
Pour in water and cover for 13 minutes. At 13 min check and water should be soaked up. If not, go for another 2 minutes until you only see steam no water. Should be just steaming.
If you don’t dig above #3 you can just boil and drain rice.